Wave of Grace

~Janet’s Blog

Grace At The Beach

“Wave of Grace” is based on my memories of Joel and I taking Jessica to the ocean for the first time.  She was only 18 months old.  It was such an exciting day of discovery for her!  She had spent so much time either in our house or my office at the church (I was doing Youth Ministry at a church full-time) that we hadn’t actually bought her official shoes yet, just cute slippers with animals on them.  In spite of her tootsies getting a little damp she waddled with all her might along the edge of the sea.  She really kept us on our toes!!

After a while, she reached down and “discovered” sand.  She quickly learned that wet sand sticks to your hand.  She got so frustrated when she let go of the sand, but it would not let go of her!  Jessica shook her hand and expressed her thoughts on the matter, grumpy that her efforts to be sand-free were so unsuccessful.  Joel or I would then help her clean off all the sand.  Relieved that she was free of the sand, she would immediately plunge her hand back into the wet sand!  Once again, Jessica was appalled that the sand would have the audacity to stick to her hand again!  Had she not made it clear that she did not appreciate this outcome!?

Grace In The Grit

I can’t help but think there must be some kind of similarity between us watching our children and God watching us choose to do things a certain way over and over and getting frustrated when we get the same results each time.

In daily life, it is so easy for me just to fall back into old habits, doing things the same way over and over but expecting a different outcome.

God wants so much good for us and yet gave us the freedom of choice, so if we don’t want the good, He has to offer we are free to reject it.  That’s got to be hard when He can see so many wonderful possibilities for us…His waves of grace!

Being a Mom, I have learned that wanting the best for my daughter is not completely in my control.  Sometimes cost gets in the way. Or situations.  But even when I can provide her with opportunities, I can’t make her embrace them.  All I can do is encourage her to be open to the experience and hope that she will choose to be positive.

I have my own times when I am open to what God wants for me and other times that I have no interest in trying something new or viewing a change more positively.

How about you?  Do you try to be open to God’s direction or changes in life that come your way?  Do you demand to be the one making the shots?  If maybe a little of both, why?

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