It’s pathetic, really, how often we try to do a job with the wrong tool. We end up wasting our time and doing a poor job just because we wouldn’t start with what was needed. Case in point: sadly, I can’t count the number of times I have tried to hammer a nail into something (or just re-hammer a nail that was poking out a bit too far) with a rock, a shoe, or whatever is lying around. And how about those times I’ve tried to substitute a butter knife, or even my fingernail for a straight-edge screwdriver? Disgraceful, I know.
At times I am just in a lazy state where my reasoning leads me to think it’s too much work to go out the garage and retrieve the right gizmo. Only I usually end up eventually trudging out to the workbench to haul it back to my work area anyway, now in an effort to salvage the mess I’ve just made. It turns out, the hammer was created for a very good reason. (And might I note that the intended reason was not to pummel holes into doors after chasing a sister who has locked herself in her room- just sayin’.)
So as usual, this relates to other areas of our lives as well. Too often we implement surrogate tools like “anger” or “shame” (which really have no place in our toolboxes) when what is needed is love, patience, or forgiveness. I’m talking about when a child spills their drink all over your expensive laptop and ruins it all in one fateful instant- yeah, that hurt. Thankfully, this time I took the time to pick up the right tool and realize that it would just make a mess and cause need for more repairs if I got upset. I also realized that I was the ‘responsible’ party in the situation and should have been more careful. However, this concept applies to the tools we utilize on ourselves as well. Negative and improper substitutes for real tools will never bring about positive results. So quit beating yourself up over every little thing!
Most things need repairs from time to time, and unfortunately we make mistakes every day, so I guess I should work to be prepared and make use of the proper tools each situation calls for- even when it means trekking CLEAR out to the garage.
