Hilarious Grace

Author: Julie Reid
April 12, 2022
I spent a few days with my parents last week.  They are in their 80s…and a bunch of fun!  During the day, my mother wanted a snack.  I fixed her a plate with a slice of bread, a slice of cheese, grapes, peanuts and caramel corn.   I took it to her and asked, “How about this!”   She looked at it and in a serious tone said, “I need some butter on the bread.”   I broke out into laughter and returned to the kitchen to butter her bread.  When I took it back to her, she said, “I’m sorry.  That wasn’t very nice of me.”  I said, “It’s fine Mom. I thought it was hilarious!”

I got to thinking about that little exchange.  Why did I think her request was hilarious?  Because I know my mother. I know she is always grateful to anyone who serves her food or helps her around the house.  I know her heart.  And because of that, I don’t take her occasional “complaints” seriously. 

But how do I react when others occasionally “complain” when I help them?  Do I give them the benefit of the doubt, like I do my mother?  Nope.  I know I don’t.  Why do I give my mother grace but do not extend it to others, whom I know equally as well as my mother?  That’s a convicting thought!

I can blame my attitude on all sorts of stuff:  hormones (we women use that one A LOT!), weather, stress, anxiety, social media, blood sugar, or the amount of caffeine currently coursing through my veins. But none of those are legit. 
 I have the ability to adjust my attitude DESPITE all those external forces.  That ability to rise above my feelings comes from God’s grace extended to me. I have to make the conscious decision that I am going to tap into that power from the Holy Spirit and choose to extend grace, even when all those outside forces tell me not to.   Often, it’s a moment by moment decision.  But extending grace when I don’t feel like it makes all my daily moments more enjoyable.   Maybe even hilarious!  

Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”  (NLT)
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