Friday, January 27, 2012

Love and Grace

Much has been going on recently at home. Through Hannah's weeks of intense prodromal labor, things have been anything but normal. But now--praise Jesus--Piper Joy Burgett has been born and we can begin moving toward what can only be called the "new normal." We're ready for things to settle down.

The ones who have taken these changes the hardest have been Riley and Amity. Everything with them has just become more difficult, from getting dressed to eating to going to bed. It has not been easy. I have been talking to Jesus a lot recently and they tend to come up often. One of the most common things I have talked to Jesus about and asked for is grace. Grace is traditionally defined as "unmerited favor." In my mind, that has been exactly what I need. I need grace so I can treat them right even when they are acting nuts.

Well tonight I was laying down with the girls, putting them to sleep. I prayed with them as usual and commenced singing and stroking Amity's hair until they fall asleep. The process was taking longer than I wanted and I started to become impatient. In this moment, I turned to Jesus and almost said what I often say, "Jesus, please give me grace for this moment!" But before I could say the words, I heard in my mind, "Is grace really what you need?" That was exactly what I needed to hear.

As I pondered those words, I realized that my request came out of impatience stemming from selfishness. There is nothing wrong with asking for grace, but what I should have been asking for was love. Grace stems from love. If I love someone, I will treat them well regardless of how they treat me. To ask for grace in order to satisfy my own selfishness is absolutely wrong!

I am reminded of our heavenly Father, who loves us with perfect, unconditional love. And the grace and mercy He shows to us flow out of that. That is where my grace should come from. It should flow from the unconditional love that I have in my heart for my precious family. There is no place for selfishness in being a husband or father.


So in the name of Jesus, I repent of impatience and selfishness. I ask now for You to fill me with Your perfect, unconditional love. Let everything I do come from that love. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.