She rattled off her list of six; she scribbled them on paper and placed them front and center on the fridge, with a tacky magnet holding it in place. Her list of six. Six friends she would invite. Six friends to whom she would send invitations. Six friends she hoped would come.
I learn so much more from my children than they learn from me. I am confident of this. They teach me love, grace, joy, and forgiveness each day. This one in particular. This tough child of mine. This one I wrestle with more than any other. This one I cry over. This one for whom I seek God's wisdom and direction in how best to love, guide, discipline, and simply enjoy. How do I best extend love and grace to her? She is the one I wrestle with. How ironic! She is the one I named mercy and grace. She is the one who teaches me mercy and grace, through big and small struggles, every day.
Six friends she would invite. And one of the six? She was the one my daughter cried over for two years. She was the one we had conversation after conversation, about how to love. She was the one I reminded my daughter to love and pray for....despite. She was the one who unleashed unkind words and told my daughter that oh no! she wasn't invited to play with them! And now, the one who unknowingly caused such pain...she was invited. By my daughter, full of fiery emotions and an iron-strong will. By my daughter, full of mercy and grace. My Ella Grace had completely forgiven. Had possibly forgotten. And had unhesitatingly chosen and invited.
I learn so much more about God's love from my children than I could ever hope to teach them. And this one whom I've lost countless hours of sleep over? She has taught me the most.
It seems much like my struggles. Like my broken and ugly places. The parts I don't want to look at. The parts I don't want anyone else to see. The ones that have kept me up at night. The ones that have brought unrelenting tears. The ones I have no idea how to fix or change or manage. Those are the struggles that have taught me the most. Those are the struggles that have landed me on my face, begging for God's divine assistance. Those are the struggles God has used to reveal his nature and his love toward me.
My daughter forgave, forgot, and invited. I know another who did that. And not because I deserved it either. Yet, I am free to come to him at any time, because he forgave, forgot, and invited me. My God loved me so much that despite all the mess and mistakes he knew I would make in my life, He offered the greatest gift. And no matter what gift her friend may bring to the party, my daughter has already given the greater gift. She forgave, she forgot, and she invited.
I'm not qualified to teach much of anything through what I write or what I say. I am the student. I am constantly messing up this parenting thing--I'm not gonna lie--but God's gift to me, in my children, is astounding. I am reminded of his promise: and a little child shall lead them.*
Isaiah 11:6
I'm having Coffee For Your Heart today with my friend Holley Gerth
I'm also linking up with Jennifer Dukes Lee
I learn so much more from my children than they learn from me. I am confident of this. They teach me love, grace, joy, and forgiveness each day. This one in particular. This tough child of mine. This one I wrestle with more than any other. This one I cry over. This one for whom I seek God's wisdom and direction in how best to love, guide, discipline, and simply enjoy. How do I best extend love and grace to her? She is the one I wrestle with. How ironic! She is the one I named mercy and grace. She is the one who teaches me mercy and grace, through big and small struggles, every day.
Six friends she would invite. And one of the six? She was the one my daughter cried over for two years. She was the one we had conversation after conversation, about how to love. She was the one I reminded my daughter to love and pray for....despite. She was the one who unleashed unkind words and told my daughter that oh no! she wasn't invited to play with them! And now, the one who unknowingly caused such pain...she was invited. By my daughter, full of fiery emotions and an iron-strong will. By my daughter, full of mercy and grace. My Ella Grace had completely forgiven. Had possibly forgotten. And had unhesitatingly chosen and invited.
I learn so much more about God's love from my children than I could ever hope to teach them. And this one whom I've lost countless hours of sleep over? She has taught me the most.
It seems much like my struggles. Like my broken and ugly places. The parts I don't want to look at. The parts I don't want anyone else to see. The ones that have kept me up at night. The ones that have brought unrelenting tears. The ones I have no idea how to fix or change or manage. Those are the struggles that have taught me the most. Those are the struggles that have landed me on my face, begging for God's divine assistance. Those are the struggles God has used to reveal his nature and his love toward me.
My daughter forgave, forgot, and invited. I know another who did that. And not because I deserved it either. Yet, I am free to come to him at any time, because he forgave, forgot, and invited me. My God loved me so much that despite all the mess and mistakes he knew I would make in my life, He offered the greatest gift. And no matter what gift her friend may bring to the party, my daughter has already given the greater gift. She forgave, she forgot, and she invited.
I'm not qualified to teach much of anything through what I write or what I say. I am the student. I am constantly messing up this parenting thing--I'm not gonna lie--but God's gift to me, in my children, is astounding. I am reminded of his promise: and a little child shall lead them.*
Isaiah 11:6
I'm having Coffee For Your Heart today with my friend Holley Gerth
I'm also linking up with Jennifer Dukes Lee
How very true! We complicate our lives so much that we overlook the simple truths sometimes. Our children are beautiful reminders of God's grace. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThey certainly are! Thank you for stopping by, Celi. Blessings today!
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