It's a Tuesday morning and I am upstairs getting ready for the day when I hear “Mom!” It does not sound like an urgent call so I continue on when behind me is one of my children telling me Jameson, our precious 4 year old and youngest child is under the kitchen table eating all the Christmas cookies a friend had just delivered. I have to be honest here, when I was a younger mother this would have made me angry and I probably would have reacted to it. Thankfully, many children and middle age have mellowed me a bit and all I could do is laugh. As my children stand in front of me dumbfounded as to why I am laughing instead of disciplining Jameson they go on to repeat the offense as if I did not hear them correctly. ”MOM! JAMESON IS EATING THE COOKIES!” I smile as I call for my husband delighting in the fact that I get to express (rub in) how much his children are just like him. Anyone who knows my husband knows that cake, cookies, and ice cream are his main food groups. My children stand in front of us thinking we have lost our minds, gone soft, forgetting we are parents. Telling us stories of how they could have never done this and the horror of what would have happened if they did. I smile because I see GOD’S grace so evidently in my life at this moment and because in reality I totally relate to them. So often, I am the one looking at GOD wondering why others are getting away with things he seems to not catch. I ask myself why he is not dealing with their sin and why it is always me that is caught. My view of God is not aligning with His character. I forget that it is “His kindness that leads us to repentance.” He is patient toward us. As I am growing in my understanding of the Gospel, I realize that I need to be constantly reminding myself of it. God loves me! Is concerned with my character! Sent his son as a ransom to pay for my sins! THIS IS PERSONAL! Not a far off distant God. I do not need to manage the world and others sins. I am responsible for loving and worshiping the God of the universe who wonderfully created me. Not looking at others and ignoring my own issues. I am thankful for my older children watching out for the sins of the little ones and I am thankful for the opportunity to teach my children about Gods grace as I extend it to Jameson. Why would we extend grace to a 4 year old under the kitchen table eating a plate full of cookies? Well first of all the natural consequences will be much more severe than anything we can do and much more effective, secondly because I am just like him! I am constantly doing things right in front of GOD either not caring or not believing that he sees me. I think if we are honest, we can all relate to Jameson wanting something so badly that we will lie, sneak, cheat, or steal. We lie to ourselves when we think God does not see or care for our every need or desire. We sneak around him in darkness because of our lack of faith and trust in his goodness for us. We cheat him by not giving our time in worship to him and him alone (having other gods, idols) we steal by not surrendering our lives to him and manipulate to get what we want. God’s great mercy is not getting what I deserve. God’s grace is receiving the blessings of being in relationship with the Lover of my soul, based not upon my performance, but the performance of another. I want my children to see this. I deserve hell but because of Jesus, I get eternal life. We want our children to know Jesus Christ personally and not the moral or religious right and wrongs of life. Right =No sneaking cookies. Wrong=sneaking cookies. We want the gospel to come alive for our children and to us. We want to see it in every aspect of our lives. So what did we do with the naughty boy under the table? We laughed, identified, and extended mercy! “Jameson you thought you were getting away with sin. You thought no one could see you. However, Jameson Jesus sees you and he loves you so much he caught you. Daddy and Mommy love you very much. we want to give you wonderful things in your life because we love you so much. Jameson please trust us to give you what is best for you and please do not take matters into your own hands(or mouth)Jameson you may not have cookies for breakfast. please trust us to give you what you need when you need it and if we take it away please remember it is for your good. Jameson Jesus wants these things for you even more than we do. He created you and you do not need to hide from Him. Yes, I totally relate to Jameson. God is saying the same things to me! Now as parents we could have immediately disciplined him and been done with the matter. Instead, we chose to extend grace in a way that our children could tangibly see Christ. We wanted the children to see that when we trust and wait upon God to give them the good things he has for them how much sweeter it is. How he loves them, so much he sent his only son to die for them. Please know that in no way am I saying allow your children to disobey and then laugh about it. What I am saying is let the Gospel come alive in your parenting. Look for ways to show your children Jesus up close and personal. -Michelle
