He was only trying to help.
I knew this of course, but it didn’t stop my reflexes from kicking in and me from almost raising my voice. Almost.
The thing is, I had asked him not to take out the eggs. I knew they were too heavy, too high in the fridge, just too much for him — I knew he couldn’t handle the situation alone.
Mama was more than willing to offer help, but he couldn’t and didn’t wait on me…
And all the eggs broke, an entire dozen crashing to the floor.
He cried and I almost did. Almost.
In nearly 24 years of mothering, this lesson of extending grace comes again and again. For I’m convinced grace class is one requiring repetition, one from which we graduate later. Much later.
Like a muscle requiring movement for health, we must practice…MOVE…in grace and forgiveness as Mamas.
Our children will make mistakes.
The eggs will fall in big and little ways, and all of them may break. Today, tomorrow, it doesn’t matter really. A season of no mistakes isn’t reality for any of us.
We fall short regularly, daily. So do our children. They sometimes behave as humanity does on its own — imperfectly.
In those moments, those seasons, where is your heart?
Grace doesn’t dismiss reality, ignoring facts.
Grace allows for discipline, for correction – for truth.
Grace never expects us to keep silent when something must be said, or done. Prayed through, thought through, carried day in and day out until the situation changes.
Grace is strong enough for a mother’s fears, weariness, disappointment, tearful prayers, and even sorrow.
But still, where is your heart?
With broken eggs oozing on the wood floor, he looked up at me.
I said nothing at first, but he knew.
He now understand what Mama had meant…why the hesitation, why the caution.
This time, thankfully, I remembered the first response. I breathed deep, picked him up and…
OFFERED GRACE.
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Today Mamas, as we go about our day…wherever our children find themselves in the journey…let us offer them words of GRACE.
Words speaking life, words speaking joy. We need them often, yes? Of course we do. So do our children.
Today…offer grace.
Thank you for posting . This is something I have very little practice in and I want so much for God to change me into this, a reflection of Him. Jessica
You are welcome Jessica — God can change us, so we can hope in this promise. Blessings to you.
Great article, and even though I have been a mom for over 23 years I still need this reminder. It’s too easy to become impatient and expect perfection. I’m so glad God doesn’t deal with me that way…….I would never measure up!
Same here, Anne! Thanks for sharing…
This is a great post Daniele. It really makes me think about how much grace I don’t extend some days. Yesterday was one of those days.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful visual example of how Grace can be entended. Thank God for forgiving us when we fall short. Therefore, when we extend Grace to our children, we are teaching them the nature of God. Our children”s first impression of God comes from the way we respond to situations. Thank God He left us with His Word describing His character. Thank you for being am example and reminde of His grace.
so so true, Danielle. Thank you for this. We had a situation last night where I feel like I just blew it. Sometimes this parenting thing is VERY hard.
Sometimes we need to remember this even more as our children are older……and the mistakes are bigger. It makes a huge difference in the way all involved deal with the issue at hand.