When playing earlier this week, I started out pretty strong, but then double-faulted on a set of serves, giving my father the point on a game that I had been dominating. He laughed and said that we both knew what was going to happen now. I double faulted again. While I would get the next serve over, the rest of that game, and then set (a group of games where one player wins at least six games), and then the following two sets seemed to be filled with poor shot after poor shot on my part. Any correction that I seemed to make only things worse. While I believe I won two more games from that first double fault, most of that morning was filled with frustration, and I let that frustration and doubt prevent myself from moving forward.
I also got beaten up a bit in other aspects of my life. I have had a number of complaints about my abilities, my humor, and my personality lately. Some are the attacks of petty intent, while others have come from people for whom I have a great deal of respect. In some cases, there have even been financial repercussions due to people who have tried to tear me down. While I have had plenty of positive compliments sent my way, the assaults have cut me to the quick, especially this week. Some of them have hurt more due to the time and effort that I made to try to anticipate and appease them before they even occurred. Some have hurt because they held just enough truth to sting and sting badly.
I pray that Jesus grants me the strength that He showed when He was reviled and attacked. May I not let these events and comments seep into my mind and keep me from moving forward. May I take the criticism that is valid and improve while forgiving the vile and hurtful attacks.