(Day 26 of 31 Days to Understanding Our Mom Heart 2016)
Jesus said we should become as little children in order to be admitted into His Kingdom.[1] Do you think His directive included a free pass for unbridled expression regardless of our age?
Can you imagine if, as adults, we could speak exactly how we feel, unhindered by boundaries or consequences? Oh boy, can I think of several people and situations I’d like to give a piece of my transparent mind. The anticipation is already unleashing giddiness inside me. Precisely the non-point of acting like a child. Sigh.
Some day, Jesus. Some day I’ll get it…
When my daughter was six years old, she told me I looked disgusting Click & Tweet! The interesting thing about her delivery, however, resided in the aftermath. She landed the punch, but then followed the slam with a generous ice pack of remorse, “and I’m sorry about that.”
In the poker game of life, her approach models the playing of a hand which says I see your flaw and I’ll raise you an apology for, uh, pointing it out.
I fold.
The love of a child runs true and deep; no strings attached. Similar to a dog who remains your loyal companion regardless of how unfair you are in yelling at him because you are mad at your husband.
Kids also assume the same parental love greets them on the other side. My daughter’s insult rolled off her tongue without second thought because kids feel inherently safe being themselves around those who nurture, love, and protect them.
A child’s psyche has not yet been tarnished by the culture shock of humanity’s unforgiving harshness. But, in my daughters case, her intrepidness was coupled with compassion; a combination foreshadowing a divine principle – Christ’s free gift of grace and mercy.[2]
Jesus doesn’t need to say, “and I’m sorry about that” after shining a mirror on our weaknesses and failures. He raises the bar a notch by telling us, “I’ll love you anyway”[3]; grace and mercy.
Think of the ways His agape love shines forth in our lives:
“Shelby, I see the way you deny me by ignoring opportunities to share the Gospel; I’ll love you anyway.”
“Shelby, I noticed you started your day with both feet on the floor rushing headlong into your schedule completely unaware of my presence; I’ll love you anyway.”
“Shelby, I blessed you by answering your prayer for your children’s safety and you didn’t take the time to thank me; I’ll love you anyway.”
And then we can raise the bar another notch and say, “Thank you, Lord, for making me aware of where I am coming up short in loving you and others”; grace and mercy.
I’ve been journaling since my children were born, expressing my feelings and emotions as both wife and mother along with keeping record of my children’s colorful comments and actions. As I sit here crisscross applesauce in my empty nest turning the priceless pages of history, I am amazed at the pearls of wisdom spoken from the mouths of my babes. God knew what He was doing by prompting me to ink the memories.
God always knows what He is doing and often we don’t. But the glory resides in knowing He loves us anyway Click & Tweet!And although, at least for now, our Lord really isn’t giving us middle-aged folk a free pass for dishing out barbs dipsticked in brutal honesty whenever we see fit, I know the day is coming. Pretty sure the threshold occurs somewhere around seventy when, as sweet old white hairs, we can say what comes to mind with the only consequence being a few sheepish smirks at our political incorrectness.
This will hopefully be followed up with an accepting statement along the lines of, “How cute that old lady is. She says whatever she wants, but I guess she’s earned it.”
Ya think?
When and if you are the recipient of my brazen veracity, well…
I’m sorry about that. Jesus loves me anyway!
Embrace the Grace, crazy Mommas!
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For those of you who may have stumbled across this post, please check out the story behind our 31 day journey towards understanding our mom heart here. You will find links to all the other days posted. Welcome!
[1] Matthew 18:3 [2] Ephesians 2:8 [3] Romans 8:35
Shelby Spear
Shelby is a Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach, Certified Meditation Teacher (CMT), author, freelance writer, speaker, and love enthusiast who is passionate about helping others ‘change the way they look at things so the things they look at change.’ She has numerous stories featured in the national publication, Guideposts. She also has over 160 featured articles at online publications, including Her View From Home, Scary Mommy, Parenting Teens & Tweens, For Every Mom, Love What Matters, and Today. Her book, How Are You Feeling, Momma? (You don’t need to say, “I’m fine.”), co-authored with her dear friend, Lisa Leshaw, recently won the 2020 Publisher’s Weekly Book Life Prize as the finalist in the Inspirational/Spiritual category.
