Grace Archives - Page 2 of 4

October 14, 2013 by Karin Leave a Comment

~ Day 12 ~

We think we have it all figured out the day they are born. Well at least some of it.

We think we know the decisions we will make and the direction we will go.

We are pretty sure the best and wisest choices will be crystal clear when the time comes.

Then, we realize… we gave birth to humans.

Not so simple anymore.

This quest for good deeds…

I joked with my husband as I headed out the door with the oldest two. He had come home early from work. Mission… orthodontist.

Look, it’s your good deed. You are staying here with the others.

He laughed,

Yea, that’s called parenting. It doesn’t qualify as a good deed.

Or does it?

My oldest girl snuck quietly into the bedroom, plate in hand. She whispered,

Mom, I wanted to bring you breakfast in bed.

The sparkling silver covering revealed the most divine piece of toast I had ever seen. And, coffee, too. Perfect.

She grinned at my reaction,

It’s no big deal, mom.

Or is it?

Hands scrubbing sud-covered pots tonight… for the 776th time. Solo mama bone weary from chasing a napless toddler while trying to de-clutter the one place my warrior can study in some sort of peace. My big boy wraps arms around my waist (when did he get so tall?),

You are the best, mom.

Kind words. No biggie.

Or are they?

Searching for these good deeds in all corners. A girlfriend sends me a message,

I cleaned my daughter’s hamster cage today. She will be so happy and I’m hoping it is a real lesson in grace. Does that count?

Does it count?

Lessons in grace.

I put sleepy, baby blue-eyed girl to bed, and whispered into her sweet thumb-sucking gaze,

I’ve tried to make all the right choices for you babies. I hope that counts.

Baby grinned. Peace enveloped. Grace to erase the stress of this day.

The good deed of grace… that starts right at home.

Home… the most challenging place to plant a good deed on many days.

Home… the most necessary place to give and seek good deeds every day.

The place that comes first in the lifting of this world. Home.

It all counts here.

Galatians 6:9-11

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

October 2, 2013 by Karin Leave a Comment

Let Your Light Shine

31 Days of Good Deeds

~Day 2~

This story, posted by a friend of mine, is the story that prompted me to look for more good deeds.

Most of the time we like to retaliate. Repay unkindness with some other type of unkindness. This isn’t the way we are called to live. This isn’t the way that makes us happy. This isn’t the way we find peace and joy.

I tell my kids,

Be nice.

Over and over again. Sometimes, it isn’t that simple. Sometimes, it takes making a decision that feels quite unnatural.

Sometimes, it takes hearing a story about someone who made the right decision… and deciding to be more like him.

And, in the end, more like Him…

Here is my friend’s story.

I just had an interesting experience at Starbucks. The drive through is set up in such a way that you can enter two ways. It is customary to take turns approaching the order area. Anyway, I waited my turn and could tell the next car in line didn’t want to wait. They quickly cut me off. I gave the two college-aged boys a what’s going on expression and asked them to roll down their window. They proceeded to cuss me out and say it was their turn and they had been there 10 minutes. Well, this is not the first time someone has done this to me this week, and I’ve had enough with people. So, I seriously considered getting out of my truck, pulling the guy out of his car, and breaking his face (sorry mom). But the thought of going to jail and leaving my wife with 5 kids over Labor Day stopped me.

Just then I seriously thought what would Jesus do. So, I let them go ahead of me and when I placed my order I told the lady I wanted to pay for their coffees, too. I could tell they were stunned when they pulled up to the window. I hope that made a bigger impact on their lives, and maybe taught them a little about courtesy and how to treat others. Hopefully they will remember this long after they would have forgotten their broken noses.

Yes. I want to be more like this.

Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

(Day 1 is right here…)

September 25, 2013 by Karin 2 Comments

Why We Should Tell It Like It Is

It’s hard to find your voice, isn’t it?

There are so many thoughts spiraling through our minds, but putting them into words isn’t so easy.

Most of the time, my most profound, eloquent statements come out a little bit like…

uh. hey.

We trip over words. We trip over opinions. We trip over I-don’t-want-to-offend-but-that-is-just-all-wrong. Or maybe, I am… all wrong. We trip, stumble, falter, and flail. The best of our intentions can step right out in front of a bus… and become road kill.

It’s hard to find your voice. You know, the voice you are really supposed to have. The one that is buried beneath proper decorum, benign pleasantries, and vacuous blather. I don’t mean small talk. I don’t mean pleasant conversation.

I mean… the stuff we really mean. The words we battle between our mental gymnastics and our vocal release. Lack of tact and crass ramblings are not the answer.

It is hard to find your voice. It is hard to be honest.

Not the don’t-tell-a-lie kind of honest.

The honest that reaches into the depths of our souls. The words that murmur in our spirits and long to be released. Not hurtful, rage-filled spatter. But, instead, words stirred in us by the Spirit that drives us.

I wonder why it is so hard to tell the whole truth. I wonder why we can’t own up to all the painful insecurities and just call them out on the carpet. We could then take that carpet and pound the dusty mess right out. Until the flittering specks of our dusty insecurities vanish into a forgotten mist.

We could just say,

I compare myself to you and it makes me feel like less.

I think I have it figured out, then I slip; and I just want to quit.

I want to be a good mom and wife, but I am worn out.

I feel like so much depends on me, and I just fall short.

I am plain old sick of my own voice.

Kids have it all figured out. They say just exactly what they mean. They mean just exactly what they say… until we tell them not to.

It’s just not polite. Don’t say that.

Oh, hush, don’t let them hear you.

But… it’s the truth.

Mom meltdowns sometimes bring a beautiful truth to light. Sometimes it gives these little ones a chance to step up and voice life-giving words,

You are a great mom.

Everyone gets tired and stressed out.

Mom, you’re the best.

I wonder why we can just get it right?

I know, it’s that whole fallen world thing. It is, you know. Fallen.

Why don’t we just step up from the dust with our God-given hearts and speak truth, love, and honesty into the souls we pass. We are all suffering. In one way or another. We pull that heavy old worn security blanket over our heads and stifle the life-giving words of truth.

Sometimes, we should just tell it like it is. With kindness. With grace. With these sincerely broken souls that have been given the most sincerely priceless gift.

The gift of words. The gift of the Word. The life-giving, soul-healing, love-drenching gift.

Words.

Maybe we should take a cue from these little ones who speak truth without a thought to lie. We could stop covering the screens with illusions of I’ve-got-it-all-together.

We could whisper,

Me too.

My little baby blue-eyed boy climbed into my lap. It was bedtime and mama was well past any patience that could be mustered.

I need you to go to bed.

He ignored my frazzled words. Clinging to my neck, face nuzzling in tighter, his words…

Mom, it’s all about the love.

It’s just all about the love.

How is it that they just get it?

I smiled and squeezed.

A delay tactic, maybe. The truth, definitely.

It is all about the love.

Simple words.

Maybe we don’t need to dress up our big adult words. We could just remember to say the simplest of things.

You are not alone.

I know it’s hard for you.

I will pray for you (and do it).

Remember who you are.

I think you’re a really cool person.

I love you.

We are in this together.

God loves you. Yes, even when you don’t.

It’s all about the love.

Maybe I should just forget about finding the right voice. Stop talking… and listen to my boy.

It’s all about the love.

Philemon 1:6-7

I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

February 8, 2013 by Karin 2 Comments

The Secret About Secrets

Secrets.

I’ve had secrets.

Have you ever had a secret?

The surest way to lose your mind is to keep a secret.

I’ve never told anyone else this…

Her eyes trembling tears.

I am so ashamed.

What I can see now… the worst thing about a secret, is not the secret itself.
The worst thing about a secret is… secrecy.

This burden of taking it on… all alone.

Now I’m not talking about sharing your every woe with every soul that passes through.
I’m not talking about divulging a confidence that is meant to relieve burden from another.
I’m not talking about airing every piece of dirty laundry to anyone close enough to get a whiff.

I am talking about the kind of secret that sneaks into the soul and boroughs itself into the dark recesses of the heart.

The kind of secret that whispers…

No one will understand.

No one else has done this.

No one will love you… if you tell.

The kind of secret that snarls…

You should be ashamed.

This secrecy is the snarling wolf that circles the unsuspecting sheep.

It circles its distracted prey… growling lies.

You have nowhere to go.

You won’t get away from this one.

You are alone.

The secret devours… and it lies.

Our enemy lies. He circles and circles, crouching low. Hissing lies.

Until we stop.

Have you ever been in this corner? Have you ever found yourself in this corner, shivering and trembling… and wondering,

How did I get here?

I’ve had these kind of secrets. The stress of them pains the stomach and numbs the heart.

We whisper to ourselves…

I can work this out.

I can put it out of my mind.

I can get past this.

And. We. Can’t.

Not alone.

Can I just tell you that you are not alone? The snarling wolf has no power over you. The secret is not as horrible as the secrecy.

There is nothing that shocks God.

There are no surprises to Divine ears.

There is nothing… nothing that can separate us from Him… unless we let it.

Tell Him your secret.

Here’s the other thing.

Tell someone else.

We are here together for a reason. We are not made to be islands. We all have secrets. We so often have the same secrets. We just don’t know it.

Until we tell.

When we tell… the secrecy vanishes. Just. Like. That.

The problems may not be gone. The pain may not be over. The journey may just be beginning.

The secret is gone. It’s not a secret anymore.

Tell someone. Take the power away from the secret. Give it back to God.

The truth will set you free.

2 Corinthians 4:2

Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

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February 1, 2013 by Karin 2 Comments

Just When We Think We Are Good To Go

Who knew it would hurt so much?

I mean it’s been almost a year and I feel like a thick scab has been ripped from an unsuspecting wound.

Who knew grief would haunt you when you least expect it?

I didn’t know. I thought I was good to go.

I don’t think so much about her suffering. I think more about the days before the word cancer ever entered our conversations. I think about who she was. Not this victim who needed treatments, radiation, chemotherapy, meals for her family, get well cards, and wigs. I think about her radiance before a vicious disease tried to claim her.

She gave a speech once. She knew what her prognosis was at this time. She said that she was a survivor. She was surviving the attack of the vicious enemy. She would survive the attack… even when it took her last breath.

I remember the priest at her funeral telling us that she wanted answers for the suffering.

Don’t we all want answers for the suffering?

Don’t we all want to throttle the suffering until it can no longer take one more victim?

The priest spoke words I will never forget. He told her that Jesus’ story is about the suffering. His very purpose was to come here, to claim us, through His suffering. The culmination of His earthly story, the story that rattles us and tears the human skin from our souls, is His story of suffering.

She walked this suffering, bearing her cross. She was gracious, and beautiful, and loving, and kind. Her humor split my sides. She did not understand her suffering, but she bore it.

Face to face with death, how does a soul bear it?

I thought I had made it through. The memory of birthdays, Christmas cards, texts, phone calls. It’s been almost a year. I expected the anniversary of her home-going to hit. The same day as my little one’s birthday. My plan… focus on the birth. The birth of my baby. My friend’s birth into perfection.

I didn’t think the wound would ooze tonight.

But, here it is. Bleeding. All over a screen.

Life is good. Life goes on. She would want that. Then, this shot of pain… right through the heart.

Checking old text messages. Listening to old voicemail. Just her voice… one more time.

Grace like rain. The wound torn open to wash clean again with grace. Just when I think I’m good to go. He reminds me of grace.

We are not good to go here. We are far from good. We are covered in grace. Just like rain.

She would tell me this.

It will always be ok.

All because of His grace.

This grace raining over me. Me raining all over this keyboard. His grace all over… all of it.

This reign of grace.

There will be no more suffering… no more victims… all because of grace.

Romans 5:21

so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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It All Counts Here

Let Your Light Shine

Why We Should Tell It Like It Is

The Secret About Secrets

Just When We Think We Are Good To Go

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