Grace

I love how you can learn beautiful grace from your kids.  So allow me to tell you a story of grace:

My two daughters Anna and Addie love to drive a golf cart and were taking turns doing so yesterday.  My son Jojo has an imagination out of this world and can get easily angered at things and so he is playing a game/not happy while girls are driving golf cart.  Well, at one point, he decided to pick up a rock and throw it in the direction of the golf cart, not taking into account the motion of two objects.  Sadly, the rock found its location in the center of Addie's forehead.  Thankfully no blood, but was on the verge of bad, but just a big ole gooseegg and soon a nasty looking bruise.  By the way, one of the toughest kids on the planet, she didn't cry but was upset.  So of course, I kick in to high gear of going after Jojo, who is running in the opposite direction of my voice...haha.  So I catch up with him and I swear, my kids would rather me spank them and send them on their way instead of having a conversation with me.  For about 7 minutes I wanted him to understand the foolishness of this moment.  I asked questions...he gave me answers.  He was already humiliated because he didn't intend for it to go down this way in the first place and now he has to look me into the eyes and have conversation about this humiliation.  I want him to have wisdom for his life.  Now, i am not a big fan of apologizing right away, but asked him to find a time when his heart was ready to say his sorrys and ask for forgiveness.  That was it.  Let's all move on and enjoy the day.  Later on i caught up with Addie who was already back to playing.  This is the conversation and this is GRACE!

Me:  "Addie, how's your head?"
Addie:  "it's good, don't touch it!"
Me:  "Did Jojo apologize yet?"
Addie:  "yes, he apologized twice!"
Me:  "was it sincere?"
Addie:  "yes it was."  (inside I am smiling)
Me:  "Are you good?"
Addie: "yes...can I ask you something?  Is it a lie if people ask me what happen, i just tell them i was in a golf cart driving and a rock flew and hit me in the forehead?"
Me:  "i think it is fine, why?"
Addie:  "i don't want anyone to think badly of Jojo"  (at this moment I want to run and weep) IS THAT NOT GRACE?

Grace is a beautiful gift, but it needs to be embraced fully and it needs to be shared always for us to appreciate it as a gift!!!

Thank you Addie for teaching me grace in the midst of your pain.  Thank you Jesus for teachable moments about Your Grace!