Laced With Grace

My daughter’s 15th birthday is around the corner. She has grown up fast in her first year of high school. She attends public school here in Southern California and her freshman year was eye opening. The first month of school at the tender age of 14 she witnessed a friend on drugs, was hit on by a girl, wrangled the halls along with students clothed in every bizarre fashion you can think up and discovered High school curriculum was a whole bunch harder than middle school.

As she ends the school year, I have to stand back in awe at who she has become as a person and as a follower of Jesus. This kid knows who she is and has made good choices not out of fear of me or because of the threat of punishment but for herself. She has chosen to cling to the values she knew as a child because of her faith. Because of Jesus.

This is the best thing a mom could ever hope for. I’m not a perfect mother by a long way. I am also married to an unbeliever so the challenges to raise a child to love Jesus are enormous. But, along the way I may have done a few things right. The best thing I did was to pray.

I pray every day for my child by name. I ask the Lord to protect her from evil people and evil spirits. I ask God to reveal Himself to her in some way during the day. I ask Him to help her to remember to pray to Him when she is feeling scared, insecure or tense. I usually utter this prayer in the car as I drive away after dropping her off at school in the morning. I may look like an idiot in my car muttering away but I know I have left that school with God’s covering over that child.

In addition to praying as I drive away, I pray with her on the way to school. I think the most powerful prayers every uttered for this child occurred in the car. Who would think it? I reach out my hand, touch her knee, and start praying something like this.

Lord Jesus, watch over my girl today. Give her something to laugh about today. Teach her how to be a good friend. Help her to remember that You are watching over her and to pray when she is facing decisions. Lord, also help her to do well on the science test today. In Jesus name. Amen.

I’m not a perfect mother but I serve a perfect God. He hears our prayers. Our children need to hear us pray for them. This is our living legacy of faith. Live it out loud. And finally, I cling to this verse:

Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

The key to this verse is the word “old.” That can mean 80 years of age but God will honor your efforts and your prayers. I know this because I am living proof of its truth.

Be blessed, The Prodigal Daughter, Lynn

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I love gardening!  Every year my sweet family takes me out shopping for Mother’s Day for flowers…. the “dirt kind”, NOT the “vase kind.”  This year I found some beautiful rose bushes, which reminded me of a lesson God taught me several summers ago that centered around rose bushes.  Andrew, my oldest was eight at the time and LOVED to “help” me.

Have you ever had the experience of time moving in slow motion, almost like it was a dream? Time seems to stand still as many things happen all at the same moment. That was the feeling I experienced  as I walked around the house to the backyard and saw my son,  clippers in hand, with a sweet childish grin planted on his face.  I looked past him, and spotted my mangled rose bushes. What had been healthy, beautiful, HUGE bushes, many stems already budding, now lay on the ground around half inch stubs- the only thing left of my bushes.

The look on my face must have given away the horror that was building up inside of me!  The look on his face turned from pride and joy to regret and sadness, all in the same moment. His sense of satisfaction for “helping” mom with a task, and doing the job oh so well disappeared quickly as he figured out he had done something wrong.  And, if there had been any confusion about how I felt, it disappeared when I began to sob loudly!

“Mom, I trimmed the weeds away so you could plant your roses!” Andrew said quietly.

My son knew how much I love “my” roses. I cut them all summer for fresh flowers inside of the house.  I love arranging beautiful bouquets. All summer, I cut flowers for friends and neighbors. These rose buses are so precious to me. Andrew wanted to help me by cutting away what he thought was weeds.  He hadn’t realized until he saw me that he had cut down the actual bushes!

As I looked at the bushes, grief and loss swept over me. And, anger began to rise. What had ever possessed him to cut the bushes down? Why didn’t he ask first? He knows better to use the clippers without asking! Through all of the emotions, I heard a gentle whisper, “mercy, grace, mercy, grace,” over and over. I knew the Holy Spirit was whispering to me to show my son mercy and give him grace.

By that time, my son, too, was crying. He needed affirmation that although he had done something terrible, Mommy forgave him.  I sat down on the landscaping block and wept uncontrollably. It took me a few minutes to regain my composure, but when I did,  I hugged my son and told him how much I loved him, and that I forgave him.

I could have lost my temper. I could have angrily punished him. I could have said things I would have regretted. But, the Holy Spirit, who helps us in our weakness, whispered words to me that were louder than any emotions or feelings that were buzzing all around me.  Through the power of God and His overflowing grace, I was able to teach life lessons to my son as I shared with him that God had helped me not to lose my temper. I told him how I heard the Spirit whisper “grace” and “mercy.” I taught my son that Jesus teaches us to forgive, even when something very painful has happened to us. I was able to share the “peace that passes all understanding” with him, as I explained how good it felt to let go of any angry feelings, and to offer him grace for making a mistake.  I was so thankful that God helped me to walk in the Spirit, not the flesh and react with love and tenderness instead of anger!  Several years (and many rose bushes) later, I can laugh at this experience and again thank God for helping me react with love and grace.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion and kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them in perfect unity.” -Colossians 3:12-14

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” -Ephesians 5:1-2

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.” -Ephesians 4:32

Father God, may I always react to people the way You would have me treat them. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who leads us and guides us. Give me a spirit of grace, mercy and forgiveness. May I be a reflection of You and of Your goodness. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen.

Tracy

For as long as I can remember, Mother’s have always had something to say about every crisis, every situation, every mistake and every spilled glass of milk…

• A little soap & water never killed anybody.
• Always wear clean underwear in case you get in an accident.
• Answer me when I ask you a question!
• Are you going out dressed like that?
• Are your hands broken? Pick it up yourself! I’m not your maid!
• As long as you live under my roof, you’ll do as I say.
• Beds are NOT made for jumping on.
• Call me when you get there, just so I know you’re okay.
• Close the door! You don’t live in a barn.
• Did you brush your teeth?
• Did you comb your hair?
• Do you think I’m made of money? 

Not only do Mother’s have something to say about things, but they seemingly know what is best for their children…

• Don’t pick your nose in public.
• Don’t run in the house.
• Don’t sit too close to the television, it’ll ruin your eyes.
• Don’t talk with your mouth full!
• Don’t walk away when I’m talking to you!
• Eat your vegetables, they’re good for you.
• Don’t eat that, you’ll get worms!
• Don’t go out with a wet head, you’ll catch cold.
• Don’t make me get up!
• Don’t pick that scab, it’ll get infected.

Besides teaching children to eat healthy, to wash behind the ears and say please and thank you … one of the BEST things that a mother can teach her child is to love God with all of their heart.

PROVERBS 22:6  “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Training up  a child is more than saying … “Who taught you THAT? You didn’t learn that in this house!” … Train them up by living in front of them the rewards of loving God with all of YOUR heart. The best thing a mother can know is …trust Him for everything and do not lose faith over anything!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

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