Bittersweet Sacrifice

We are on a car ride to church when it was exclaimed from the backseat, "someone wrote on the seat"!  Then the mystery began...

Who did it? 

This debate ended abruptly for our church service and lunch but no worries, it resurfaced from the backseat on the way home.  As we arrived home, no one in the backseat department volunteered guilt to the said graffiti.  Since someone had to be punished for the violation, we choose to spank both in hopes that the guilty party would step forward.

Indeed, someone DID step forward!

My son spoke up and said, "I did it".  Daddy then proceeded to spank him.  As this process unfolded, my daughter held her head low and "just couldn't watch".  As I probed in a little further, I found that my son had stepped forward and taken the blame for something his sister had done!

In one instance, I was so proud that my son would take it upon himself to carry someone else's burden.  He kept saying, "I just don't want her to get in trouble". 

And in the same instance was so sad that my daughter would allow him to take the blame for something she did. 

In every instance of parent-child discipline, we have a choice...to discipline and move on, or to recognize God's great hand at work.

So many lessons learned from such a simple act...

Putting yourself before others, humility, repentance, loving kindness, forgiveness...

I am so thankful to have these 'God moments' to look back on and see the the refinement in my children.









A lesson in grace

So, I have been reading a great book over the past year. Yes, I said YEAR. It is one of those books that you read, reread, then reference back to, it's that good. It isn't an easy read but definetly a worthy read. The book is called Give them Grace.  It is one thing to read about giving your kids grace and agreeing with the biblical teachings, but totally different to actually put it into practice. 

Yesterday, we had piano lessons. An hour before we left for our lesson, I reminded my daughter to get her books ready. Once we got in the car to leave, I asked her again if she had her books. She insisted
that she had her books. Of course you know how the story ends, we get to piano and my daughter had left the books by the door. It's kinda hard to do a piano lesson with no books. I must admit, on the inside I
was fuming. Thankfully, the student before us let her borrow her books. Our piano teacher shared a story of how when she was little and forgot her books, her father took away her allowance to pay for that
lesson. This sparked what I thought was an adequate punishment, after all- it WAS chore day. So, we agreed, my daughter would joyfully do the chores this week with no allowance as her punishment for being irresponsible. Seems fair and extending grace, right?

Well, the short answer is...No, not exactly

The next day, we got ready for school. It was an unusual morning. We were ready ahead of schedule. We took advantage of this 'extra' time and double checked the backpack to make sure we had everything. Then, we were off! It felt good to get there before the doors swung open. As my daughter got out of the car, I realized I had not put my daughters backpack back into the car. She had done her part and rolled in out to our car, but I forgot to load it!

Now, what about that responsibility thing?

Talk about getting my attention!

God spoke to my heart loud and clear,

Give Them Grace!

grace- Pronunciation: grās- The exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor; disposition to benefit or serve another; favor bestowed or privilege conferred.

Was this the reaction I had with my daughter?

Did I seek to extend love, kindness, and unmerited favor?

Are you filled with grace as you discipline your child?

Rejoice freely in His steadfast love

 and share that happiness with all those around you,

ESPECIALLY your kids!