This post is a part of the Five Minute Friday link up. We write for just 5 minutes on a 1-word prompt, without heavy editing, and see what happens. Today’s prompt is “culture.”
If culture is what you’re surrounded by, then make mine a culture of grace, please.
I want to be known for always showing grace, but unfortunately, I fall far short way too many times.
My daughter used to complain that, when she cleaned her room, all I would notice was what was still undone rather than the massive amounts that had been done. And when my husband would stop by the grocery store for me, I would notice the one thing that he got wrong rather than the multitudes he had gotten right. I’ve gotten better at that. I make a conscious effort to be grateful.
But just the other day I said something to my daughter that shot her down after she had experienced a personal victory that she wanted to celebrate with me.
I missed it completely.
I have since repented to her and she has forgiven me, but what I would like to figure out is why I lean toward that in the first place.
Is it the copyeditor in me, trained to find the smallest thing that is wrong? Honestly, it could be, but whereas the goal is no errors on the printed page, there will always be plenty of mistakes in life. Jesus came in grace and truth. I want to be like Jesus.
There is a time for truth, couched in love, but there is always an abundance of grace.
Compelled 
We all need grace, don’t we? We need to give and receive it. I enjoyed your thoughtful, honest post.
Thank you, Carol. Grace upon grace upon grace. Praise God it’s never ending from His end!
I love the idea of the culture of grace. That’s what I want to cultivate in my own life. Thanks so much for sharing. Blessings to you!
Thank you, Mari-Anna! I appreciate you stopping by. Blessings on your journey of grace!
I relate so much to this. I was an overachiever as a child who always felt like all that was noticed were my failures and mistakes. I didn’t want to be that parent, but I definitely find it easy to saw the flaws in my children rather than the positives. This is a wonderful reminder that there is more than enough grace to cover us all.
Thanks, Bethany. I think we feel a lot of pressure as parents to do everything perfectly! Praise be to God that’s not necessary. Blessings to you.
Honest and compelling post, and I think you’ve probably opened some hearts by sharing.
You inspired a short poem, relating to similar things in my life. Hope you like it.
You’d think that this would soften me,
and gentle a nature that’s been rough,
but I guess it’s no great mystery
that cancer’s made me even tougher.
I know the toll that pain demands
and fully feel the dread fatigue.
I should seek help from others’ hands
and recognize my aching needs.
But the gale-winds growing ever-stronger
stiffen a neck infused with pride,
and one day there will be, no longer,
a self-conceit in which to hide.
In the breaking hour, when all is spent,
will I then have the strength to repent?
#1 at FMF this week
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2019/05/your-dying-spouse-623-despair-is-bridge.html
Ah, Andrew. Bless you, my brother. Time is running out for all of us, some just more quickly than others. Peace to you.
Thank you for your vulnerability, Steph. I think all parents at some point “miss it”. Grace is a beautiful thing, especially when couched in truth. From a fellow Redbud and Five Minute Friday blogger.
Thank you, Ingrid! I truly appreciate you telling me what you think 😊