Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Yet another day of grace.....

It seems as though most of my days lately have been filled with some sort of grace...either grace given TO me, or grace given BY me...and many more examples all around me...I've really been questioning God on what exactly he needs me to learn, because I don't know if I can handle anymore of it...lol...(that may be what he wants me to learn!!!)

Today, like most days, it took my (almost) 5 year old daughter to once again teach me about grace.
I was puttering around the kitchen, cleaning up the dishes and making supper, while she was outside playing with the neighbour boy. He is 5, yet, he is about a foot taller than Hannah and probably 30 pounds heavier than her. We "babysit" (?) him about 3 times a week while his parents are at work, and the rest of the time, the kids are mostly together..(now that spring is here, it is always outside..) They have definatly started playing like brother and sister---which we all know can sometimes get ugly.
I went about my business when Hannah came into the house holding her nose. Her face was red, and tears were welled up in her eyes. Her nose was bleeding--seemed she had somehow torn skin from the side of her nostril.
"what happened honey?"
"David punched me" she said
"he punched you? David? Why honey?"
"well he wasn't sharing the swing, and I told him he had too, but he didn't want too, so he punched me."
Ofcourse with 5 year olds, some of the stories do need to be sifted through to see what REALLY happened...and I wasn't quite sure if there was something I was missing....I knew that kids will be kids, but I was pretty mad. I, being 31, wanted to march out there and take ahold of the kid, being 5, and TELL HIM WHAT I THOUGHT!! (Ha...imagine...and I proclaim to be an "adult")
Instead I took Hannah in my arms and gave her a big hug. We discussed a few more things, put a bandaid on her nose, and dried her tears.
"can I have a poptart mom?" she asked after we fixed her up
"well, okay" I couldn't say no...she just got punched in the face...
While I was getting the poptarts down, I asked "what do you want to do now then?"
"Play with David"
HUH??? Did she just say what I thought she said?? Play with the guy who just punched her in the nose?? The guy who wouldn't share with her or be her friend??
"you do?" I ask.
"yep. and can we break the poptart into pieces? David needs a piece too.."
OKAY...had I just heard her right? Not only did she want to play with this fellow, but she wanted to share her treats with him?? What wasn't I getting?? Much to my dismay, I had to admit I WAS the adult in this situation...why was I having a hard time extending grace, when my baby handed it out like it was candy?---and to a 5 year old to boot!!!
So often we carry around offences and grief, hold grudges and judgement, about what someone did, or someone said. We spend precious time focusing on what happened, who did it, why they shouldn't have...etc..etc......
when all we really need is the grace of a 5 year old.
To think of all the times I should have went back out to play and shared my poptarts....and instead I chose to stay inside and cry about the blood on my face, and the pain in my heart....it would have been so much easier if I had extended a bit of grace......

19 comments:

Unknown said...

Such moments of grace - my children teach me that all the time! Isn't it great though? I mean, God knew as we got older we'd get set in our ways and we'd lose our ability to look at things through the eyes of a child. So, he made us parents, and grandparents. Children are such a gift and often times they're thoughts and actions are what clarify a situation. Sweet Hannah Joy... I love that girl!

Amy said...

Yes Hun,
There is a reason (other than you..lol) that we named her JOY....
It's actually a story I hold dear to me, and may post it close to her birthday..
My sweet, sweet, Hannah JOY...

Unknown said...

Haha... I wasn't meaning to "claim" her as my namesake... just saying her name...

Unknown said...

Aww Amy you're too cute! I read your blog today and it made me smile! Hannah is so precious and has such a pure and forgiving heart!

God Bless,
Amanda

Roxanne said...

I'm so thankful that my kids extend grace to me when I mess up.

redeemed diva said...

Amy, I love the way you write! I so enjoy your blog. And today's thoughts were really simple and true. I love children and I love when our kids extend that grace to us as parents when we completely screw up! Great story, thanks for sharing it.

Williams Family Blog said...

Bless Hannah....what a sweetheart.

Lord, thank you for the grace you have so freely extended to me....help me to extend it to others....

Thanks Amy, once again a great story.

Anonymous said...

Awwhhhhh another sweet lesson from Hannah!! She is a gift to us all and the way you articulate it is truly amazing. Your gift to write and pull others in is truly amazing.
I always get excited when I see a new post from you......... even if its a scary old momma!

Shaun and Holly said...

Am,
We can learn soooooooo much from our little ones. As for GRACE? I LOVE GRACE!!!!!

Anonymous said...

amy, I nominated you for a thinker award, go onto the Reformation site to find the post about it.

Jen said...

Grace and Forgiveness....they come so easy to children....not even an option...just needs to happen.
I think we can learn so much from our "wee ones"

Anonymous said...

Should have told her to kick the crap out of him.

Anonymous said...

I didn't post the last one!! Just so you all know ...

Jen said...

Amy

I have also nominated you for the "thinking award....bless you

Tammy said...

WOW!!!! God is good, if not for the grace of God. What a huge lesson to be learned, that's why Jesus was so adamant that we come as children to Him.
Amy, what an inspiration you are!!!!
Love ya girl, Tammy

Shari said...

Girls - Why has no one nominated my blog for the thinking award.....lol

Shaun and Holly said...

Shari,
Good things come to those who wait! hee-hee ;o)Someday.......lol

Shari said...

Hey, Just check'in to see how the "yummy mommy" is doing today!! lol

Anonymous said...

Hey Shari ... maybe you should ask "delicious daddy" ... AHHHHH ... I couldnt help myself. Somebody had to say it ... I know some of you were thinkin it and as the sermon wnet yesterday, if your gonna think it you may as well say it :)