When we discipline our children, every once and a while we give them grace instead of a consequence for the offense. When they are given grace the conversation goes something like this:
Parent: What did you just do?
Child: I disobeyed.
P: What do you deserve?
C: I deserve a consequence.
P: Today I'm going to give you grace. What is grace?
C: Grace is when I get something I don't deserve.
P: What do you deserve?
C: A consequence.
P: Who gives us grace?
C: God gives us grace.
P: When did God give us grace?
C: When he sent Jesus to die for our sins.
P: So you deserve a spanking, but I'm giving you grace to remind you that I love you. Just like God loves you so much. He doesn't want you to have to suffer the consequences of sin so he sent Jesus. What do you need to say to me?
C: I'm sorry for disobeying.
P: I forgive you and I love you very much.
Recently after going through the dialogue above L looked at me and said, "Mama - it sure seems to me to God gives me a whole lot more grace than you do!"
I think part of God's grace to me is the humility that comes along with parenting.
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