Grace

My life is fully of teaching my children -- to listen, to love, do right, and more with the listening (and there's all of that school stuff, but that's another story). Well, I realize that I have the privilege of learning from them if I just stop instructing all the time and observe them.  This week I've noticed grace, real grace from my children.

I think I understand grace, unmerited favor.  I actually say to my boys at times, "I'm showing you grace right now by allowing you to do this since you don't deserve a privilege because you did ...."  After the words pop out I am hit with the fact that I'm not really showing grace because I am being huffy about the fact that they did something wrong earlier. Sometimes, it's more of a real grace moment where I am happy to see them blessed by the unmerited favor I'm giving.  Sometimes, not so much.  Regardless, I realized today that trying to teach them with my words what grace is may not be the best way.

Earlier this week, I overheard a very comical conversation Caleb and his friend were having regarding when he's in heaven "I'm going to tell Satan to come here and then I'm going to tell him to say sorry for everything he's done and ask God to become an angel again."  I giggled, thought 'where does he get this stuff' and moved on.  This morning at church that conversation popped into my head.  Singing about grace is much different than experiencing grace.  I realized that Caleb gets grace.  He knows that God gives to those who don't deserve it..... he believes this so deeply that he sees hope for Satan even.  

I started thinking about situations where my children show grace.  Brotherhood is a great example of that.  Wrestling goes bad one kid gets an elbow to the face and then there's an outburst from the wounded one very shortly later there's an apology and an forgiveness.  It's awesome to see as the boys get older how this process often happens without me.  I just get to listen.  The same is true for sisterhood, but with much more drama!  When my girls fight, they love making up.  They love to say "I forgive you" and jump right back to playing house.  

When I think about it the thing that strikes me the most about my kids and grace is that they forgive and let go of the fault they found in the other completely.  They don't say "I am playing with you again but I really shouldn't be because you did the wrong thing before."  They move on.

Another thing I love is being on the receiving end of my kids grace.  Anytime I've apologized to my kids for something I've said or done (I know, I know, shocking- I make parenting mistakes) they are quick to forgive and, unlike me or some other other adult interactions I've had with difficult relationship stuff, I feel accepted by them immediately and like they get the crap that comes with me is just part of the package, a package that they really love.

So that's the lesson on grace that my babies are teaching me.  I'm thankful that I get a taste of heavenly grace daily.  I pray that the Lord opens my eyes more often to the beautiful things my children can teach me, instead of constantly thinking about what I need to teach them.  Lord, may our home be full of grace.  Help me to follow my children's example of grace in action.