The leader of a business took a group of his people out to the woods for a retreat. He explained to them a costly mistake he had made. He told them how that failure made him wiser. Then, in a turn of wisdom, he insisted each person put a rock on the table, and tell about one of their own personal failures. One by one they did, strengthening their bond, letting go of some necessary baggage. But one fella was holding out. The leader looked him in the eye and said… “If you have not experienced failure…you cannot be part of this group. Failure is what you do. It is not what you are.” Today…you may want desperately to have that great new year everyone is talking about..but you are feeling the weight of your failures, as a negative instead of a positive. Your list is long and your feelings loud. Maybe you even think God sees you this way. He doesn’t want anything to do with a failure like you. But that’s so not true! I believe God wants to say something to you: If you have not experienced failure… you cannot be part of the group. Live in the company of the forgiven. Put your rock to good use…let it become a support system…a holding up place for ALL of us to gather and grow and bless the wisdom, that came on the wings of a thing we call failure. Even if you are overwhelmed today, by all that you think has stamped failure on your life, put it on the altar. Vow to live in the blessing. God is going to do wonderful things with you, if you’ll just let Him. Grow so close, you don’t miss a single one reserved for you. Be Blessed. ~Ann Stewart Porter