How {not} to be Grace Giver

When your daughter trips on a toy and spills coffee all over your table and rug, don’t jump up to grab paper towel and leave the little offender crying on the couch in front of a room full of people.

When your five year old is acting sassy to you, don’t turn around and do the same thing back at her.

When someone eats an ingredient you need for a recipe that night, don’t stop your foot and scream that everyone in the house is working against you.

When someone shows you something he’s excited about, don’t point out the thing you dislike first.

When you sign up to be someone’s family, don’t complain when it’s hard.

When your son is tired and losing control, don’t stand over him all powerful with angry eyebrows and tell him he better get to bed or else….

When your child is ill and driving everyone crazy with her whiny high maintenance recovery, don’t tell her to go upstairs and don’t come down until she’s healed.

When Jesus says forgive seventy times seven, don’t live that out for some people and not others.

When one of your children wants a bite of your coffee ice cream, don’t tell him it’s too expensive and good to share with a child.

When your daughter is genuinely trying to help you organize, don’t act all irritated when her effort gets in the way of your perfectionism.

When your son creatively designs and builds a rabbit snare, don’t tell him he probably won’t catch one.

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Thankful there’s grace for me when I don’t give it to others. As I welcome these new days of a new year, I breathe in the promise that God is able to make me new. That I don’t have to be the same wife and mother I was in 2012. That my mistakes last year or this week don’t define who I will be this year. I am one small part of God’s magnificent creation that he is making new every day.

How have you {not} been a grace giver recently? These are the stories that keep things real and us humble. Let’s not be too prideful to share them!