Why is it so hard for people to grasp the concept of Grace? This summer the Lord began to show me that I might think that I have a decent grasp on the concept of His Grace, but I really needed to learn to extend it also. As I sat on the beach towards the end of the summer, I realized that not only was my body and mind exhausted but my spirit needed a tune up too.
There is nothing like a wedding to teach you about extending Grace. As I was helping my daughter through that year long preparation stage, I learned a lot. I knew that to make it through with the character that I felt like He called me to that I needed to have a humble lesson in extending the Grace that was given to me. I prayed and fumbled my way through the process and was standing on the other side wondering how in the world we made it that far.
I knew that I needed that vacation break for myself but that my other two daughters needed me too. They sacrificed a lot this summer. Especially mom's undivided attention. They needed me and I needed rest. As I sat on that beach one day towards the beginning of the week, I was talking to God about His Grace. I love the song, "How He loves us". Katie chose the chorus of that song to be sung as she walked down the aisle toward her new husband. As I stood up that day as the mother of the bride signaling to everyone that she was about to begin her walk toward her future, I could physically feel His Grace in that room. Everywhere. All over us all. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt at that moment what it meant when the verse said, "if Grace is an ocean, we are all sinking".
As I sat looking out on the ocean and the waves, it was like He whispered to me: "Not only is my Grace sufficient for all of your needs but it is sufficient for all of theirs too." The waves just kept coming. One after another. Never stopping. Never ceasing. Always another one. Constantly. The rest of that day I was aware of the waves. They were there in the morning while I was alone. They were there later as we played together in the ocean. They were there that evening as we walked along the beach. They were there in the dark that night as I listened to them crash so soothingly into the night silence. And they would be there the next day too.
That is when I realized that His Grace fills me up. When I am crying out to Him but also throughout my day. It fills me up when I was laughing with the daughter and her friend that just love being girls even at 15. It was there when I was talking to the other daughter about a decision she was making. Those waves caressing our time together as she defended her reasons and listened to my thoughts. The Grace was there as I shared my heart with my sweet husband about the bittersweet feelings of being the mom of the newlywed. The Grace was there and as I drowned in that ocean of it, He sent it right through me to them. As long as I allowed Him, the Grace given to me flowed through my exhaustion and my overwhelmed heart. Right into the lives of those I love so dearly. As I just loved them and just was with them, I was filled to overflowing. By the Grace of a loving God.
As simple as the concept sounds, I needed that reminder. The reminder that it is not in my own strength that I even love. I cannot be a good wife or mother without His Grace. And I cannot make a difference in those around me unless I allow Him to extend some of that Grace through me. I cannot give away something free and undeserved in my own strength. Only through His Grace can I grace. And the waves of His Grace just keep coming. Never letting me get empty. Even when I feel empty.
I found this ring when we got home. It reminds me of the waves. Of the Grace. I wear it to remember that Ocean. The one I am drowning in. That if I am drowning in free, undeserved Grace then I must offer it too. It is not easy and I fail often. But my ring reminds me. The Waves never stop. Just try again. Keep loving. Keep giving. Keep smiling. Keep going. The Waves will carry me.
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need.
My power works best in weakness.”
So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses,
so that the power of Christ can work through me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT
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