The Grace Lesson

When I was a little girl, about 10 years old, I had an experience I will never forget. It has been a big life lesson…

I had just flipped the restroom light switch, and found the bulb was burned out. I had seen my parents change this light many times. It did not look so difficult. I got a new light bulb, and stood on the edge of the bathtub, and began unscrewing the screws in the globe surrounding the light. It was going smoothly, until I tried to reach the last screw – it was just barely too far for me to reach – I almost had it loose, when CRASH!!!! The glass globe went crashing to the floor and shattered everywhere.

My parents rushed to see what the commotion was about. I knew they would be upset with me. First, they made sure I was not hurt. I waited in my bedroom expecting the punishment would arrive soon. They cleaned up all the broken glass, and changed the bulb.   Instead of a punishment, my dad let me know that he knew it was an accident, and he appreciated me trying to be more responsible and helping myself. He had been encouraging us to do more things on our own. I was shocked! (My mom was shocked, too.) I was not receiving a punishment, but, being encouraged to continue to be independent.

Many years later, in a similar story, I had the chance to pass the same grace onto my own children.  I had just returned from a shopping trip, and bought some new home décor items. I had placed them carefully in my trunk, and asked my kids to help unload them. Well, as kids do, they were not as careful as they should have been. And, several bags got roughed around a bit.

I began inspecting my purchases, and realized one of my wall pictures (metal art) was broken. A leaf had broken completely in half. I was disappointed. This beautiful picture had not made it to my wall, yet, and was already broken. Immediately, I had flashbacks of that moment in my parents’ home with the light globe. I knew this was my chance to give my kids a memory of their own.

They both had my attention, and neither knew which one broke this item. They were apologizing, when I told them accidents happen. But, we need to be careful with valuables. They had the same look of shock,  that I had when I was a little girl. After we shared big hugs, I told them my story.

I decided to put the wall hanging up anyway, and put a piece of scotch tape on the broken leaf. Every time I see the wall hanging, it is a reminder to me of the grace our Heavenly Father gives us.

If we all got we deserve, we would have nothing. It is a blessing that our Father sent His Son to die on the cross for each of us to have the freedoms we have today!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV