LIFE

• Posted by REV. ANDRE G. DENIS D.D. June 3, 2013 - #PHAESE13  - 801 views
  The reason I can give grace is because I so desperately need it !...
  I can remember it. It interrupts me. It redirects me. But most of all, it challenges me. And the part that challenges me most is the “full of grace” part. My conversations should be full of grace. In other words, the bulk of my words should convey grace toward the person with whom I’m conversing. I don’t know if you’ve ever trie...d... this, but it’s hard. Especially if that other person has yuck draped all over his or her attitude. You know what I’m saying?
  I love my kids and I wish fatherhood were a string of beautiful, blissful days, but reality is sometimes very different. I had one of those altered-reality days recently when I knew things were going to be challenging with one of my son’s , I could tell he was going to push when I wanted to pull. He was going to go when I wanted to pause. he was going to take when I wasn’t in the mood to give. I just knew there was going to be a situation. When that inevitable situation arose, I measured out lavish grace with each response. Not that I didn’t correct him — I did. But I did so in calm tones. I looked for ways to lovingly reassure him. I held his hand. And I kept quiet when my nerves were begging me to do otherwise. I did really well . . . for a couple of hours. And then I lost it. Completely. I was so discouraged. But as I think back now, there was grace in that part of the experience too. I demonstrated that the reason I can give grace is because I so desperately need it. I asked my son’s forgiveness, and I decided to resist my own funk that was begging me to sit and wallow in my messy humanity. I dusted myself off and whispered, “God, help me. Please, please help me.” And I took one more step toward the grace I so desperately want to demonstrate. I don’t know who puts grace to the test in your life, but how might things be different if, just for today, you decided to resist the funk and give grace a try with that person one more time?. Remember, grace doesn’t have to be perfect to be good. Dear Lord, thank You for Your amazing grace. I hope I show it in every conversation I have today. But when I blow it, thanks for giving me an extra measure of grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.