The five of us walked across the parking lot in the cold, night air. We’re rarely all together anymore, kids scattered here and there. But we’d all managed to end up in one vehicle on this trip to and from church.
As we hurried to the car, my deep thinking, sensitive child was going on {in a hushed voice} about what they’d discussed in small group. I slowed enough to realize that since she was talking quietly, I’d better pay attention. Sure enough, by the time we reached the car doors, my temper had flared at the lack of grace taught while discussing a controversial issue.
Thankfully, my daughter is perceptive, and had realized what she was taught wasn’t quite accurate.
Our ride home, which is usually somewhat quiet when we all happen to be together, was alive with conversation. In a matter of twenty-five minutes, we discussed sin, law, grace, Holy Spirit, confession, prayer, Bible reading, and hurting hearts. The girls were firing questions faster than we could answer them.
I stressed to my girls the importance of knowing God for themselves, not via a teacher, a pastor, or even us–their parents.
I hope…I try…to teach them grace. I want them to know that God sees the righteousness of Jesus when He looks at them. I want them to know they’ve been made holy.
My desire is for them to understand that all have sinned, and it’s not our job to sit in judgment of another’s sins…to pronounce someone else’s sins worse than our own.
Above all, I desire that they love God and love others…because if they learn love and how to give grace while they’re young, they won’t sit in pious judgment as adults. They’ll learn to look past the surface, past the sin, and discover broken hearts that only Love and Grace can heal. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll be voices through which Love and Grace speaks.
