Welcome to the board, Andy.
I find the LORD, brings me back here every now and again but maybe I will be around a little more now he has pruned some of the forums where I post. Sense of humour is a plus but your post got me thinking.
my favorite relationship; with Christ Jesus (even though many times I am a poor reflection of Him).
I will start a thread on this subject but I have to ask you why you felt the need to say this?
I see our LORD God and the Lord Jesus as having given us a precious gift and freely. We could not earn it before it was given and it is not something you can earn after it has been given. God loves us just as we are but he has given us Christ and the Holy Spirit because we cannot do anything of ourselves but receive it.
None of us can make ourselves like Christ. We have to put Christ on and allow the Holy Spirit to make us God-like.
Don't knock yourself, Andy... simply thank God for the changes he is doing and continue to let him make them. Don't look back look forward with anticipation of that work God is doing in you and will complete on the day of the Lord Jesus when we will be before God himself.