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Footsteps in Grace

By

 

 

I don’t consider myself an expert.  Please don’t call me one.  I panic just a bit, when they ask me how to parent their little ones. The assumption is, four will make you wise and these nearing adult children who share my name, their beautiful hearts are somehow all my doing.  I hesitate, and say I’ve made mistakes. The truth is, I peer back at the years behind me and see a trail of trial and error, so much error.
 
And you only get to do this once.
 
Still, these friends who share my coffee and time, they ask. They want to know. Hungry faces, eyes filled with liquid hope.  The only place my heart, their hearts, can begin, is with Grace. Everyday Grace. It’s there beside the time-out chair, and in the broken shards of pottery. It wraps around us, reminding us that shattered vases are easily replaced, shattered spirits, are not so easily mended.  It swirls around us in the things we forget to do, words left unsaid, the times when reason leaves and anger boils. And a thousand times a thousand in every second of the day, it whispers that we are forgiven and we can forgive. It cries for us to hear, see and touch it. The more we receive…the more we can extend.
 
Because we only get to do this once.
 
 I am braver now, than I was then. If there was some way to turn back time, travel to the places on the trail marred by my sin, fault, or ignorance, and fix them, I would. In my wistful backward glance, it lifts it head, that amazing grace. In gratitude, it allows me to open my hands, let go of the rear-view mirror and trust the God of the universe with all of those broken places. It points me to this truth:
 
I. Am. Loved.
 
When I know deep down, how much I am loved, I live differently. Secure in His love, I know who I was created to be and I can encourage my children in the same discovery. This much I know; Living loved, changes everything. Our worth does not come from early potty training, obedient preschoolers or model teens. The deep canyon in our spirit that echoes with a need for love,will never be filled by accolades for well schooled children, organized homes, and well planned lives. Our worth, need and expectations are in Him, only Him, the giver of Life. When we are rooted in love, our children’s lives,(their behaviour, adventures, and experiences) all become opportunities for us to walk with them in gratitude and grace, covering them in love. 
 
 
 Three year old tantrums swirl, and life is a beautiful mess of crayons on walls, angry teens, and hard questions. When the answer is love, it’s not about what anyone thinks of us, it’s about the grace and love of the creator our children discover with and through us. Those tentative footsteps in grace are leading us here: The best thing we can do for our children, is to know and experience how much we are loved by God.  It changes everything…I know that well. This life of deep love, sheltering grace and overwhelming gratitude is possible…
Because he chose to die once,
and for All.
 
Today, may we experience a little more how deeply, unconditionally and extravagantly we are loved by God.

 

Blessings on your day.
 
 
Katharine makes her home in Ontario, Canada where she shares life, and laughter with her husband and four children. She is on a journey with the God of the universe, discovering who she was created to be, and what it means to walk living loved, in everyday grace. She’s just released her first book Grace and Fresh Ink and she’s working hard on a second! Most days you can find her blogging through life at Just A Thought. Always listening for His heart and never without a cup of good coffee in a great mug!

Comments

  1. Wow, Katharine! Just, wow! This really touched my heart and encouraged me. It really puts things in perspective and hits on what is important in this life. (I really liked the early potty training mention:) Thanks so much for these thoughts, Katharine.

    • Oh Mandy, I’m so glad…and yes the potty training, take hold of grace my friend! 😉 Blessings!

  2. Katherine, this was beautiful and so full of grace.  I could feel myself relaxing, breathing easier and letting go of a lot of my error.  Thank you for sharing this wisdom.

    • Thanks Eileen, it’s so true, and yet we so often search for worth in so many other places. 

  4. I love your beautiful words Katherine!! I was going over my Scripture memory passage this morning and was reminded…1 Cor 13:7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things

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