Sunday morning in Sunday School, Jake asked his class to think about resolutions they had made in 2007 and to share those that they kept and those that they didn't keep. I hate that kind of a discussion because I've never been any good at keeping a New Year's Resolution so much so that this year I didn't even give it much thought. There's always the obvious LOSE WEIGHT and that'll plague me for the rest of my life. Jake did remind me that I've lost about 40lbs this year post Maverick. I've not tried incredibly hard, but when you gain 50lbs while pregnant it somehow comes off in time. It's these last 15lbs to get back to my wedding day weight that are the kicker!!
As I spent some time reflecting and praying yesterday, the Lord laid on my heart that this year I need to be about GRACE - both receiving and giving. I often take for granted how much grace God pours into my life every day and how much He gave when He promised me eternal life with Him. I need to give grace to Jake and to Bailey and Maverick probably more than anyone else on Earth. The boys are at a tough stage in their little lives and they need their mommy to be graceful to them instead of constantly being frustrated and disgusted with how crazy they can drive me! I've almost made a reservation on Bull Street many times over the past year! (For Non-SC resident readers, Bull Street is the SC State Mental Hospital) Now as I spend time doing Children's Ministry, I need to give grace to volunteers who have opinions about how things have been or should be done that are not necessarily the way things are going to be done.
2008 is going to be the year I immerse myself in the concept of GRACE. That may mean I have to give myself grace to eat 1 more 100 calorie Little Debbie brownie!
What are you going to immerse yourself in this year? What vision has the Lord given you for the new year? Share it with us by leaving a comment!
3 comments:
After I read your post, I was extra careful how I spoke to my kids. I took that extra breath before almost exploding because I had repeated myself 3 times already. I'm sure God looks at me and wants to pop me in the head for some of the stupid stuff I do every day, but He doesn't and it is the least I can do to give my kids the same love and grace.
One thing from our James Bible study that I remember is in chapter 4 v 5 or 6, I think, when it says God gives us "more grace". I never thought about receiving grace on a day by day basis. It wasn't only upon salvation. We can ask for it anytime.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Oh, Jen, w/2 little boys I can only imagine! On days when the girls are driving me especially insane I have to stop myself & evaluate just what it is that's making me insane. Are they just being 2 year olds & mom has no patience, or are they really being naughty! Most days- well, I hate to say it, but they are 2 year olds!
I cleaned my bathroom really well today & then one of them went in & decided to wash hands without supervision. I had several puddles of foam soap on my nice clean floor! (At least it was more soap!)
I struggle with this, because is she really being bad? She knows she shouldn't use that much soap, but she also knows if hands are sticky or dirty to wash them.
Oh the lessons we learn from 2 year olds. (and I really hate it when God reminds that he's trying to tell me the same thing I've been trying to do with them.)
Thanks God! :)
-Gail
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