Grace and Mercy

"Grace is when you get the good things you don't deserve.  Mercy is when you're spared from the bad things you do deserve.  God is generous with both."- Unknown

The smell of chocolate is strong and as I stare at hs mouth there are a few crumbs left on the side.  I can remember kisses full of chocolate crumbs and sweet candy breath and sticky hands around my neck.

Grace is like doublestuff oreos and mint chocolate chip ice cream and cherry and blue raspberry Icees without calories. 

He's next to me and he's laughing, posting about this good relationship with his Mommy and I am overwhelmed. I'm reminded of how Isaiah talked about coming undone when He saw God's train fill the temple, and while I know that it isn't quite the same, my heart is full of bursting. 

Grace is this boy sitting next to me, and the fact that as a ten year old, he thinks his relationship with his mama is good.  Grace is that he loves me, even after I have screamed and gotten upset. Grace is that God has given me him, and his daddy, and all my family, for such a time as this.

Grace and mercy go hand in hand.  Mercy is when I decide to laugh when he's done something he should get in trouble for.  I'm learning to be able to give grace, to give mercy... because it has been given to me.

And just like in Luke, when the Pharisees condemn Jesus as the woman washes His feet with her hair, those who have been forgiven much love much, and if you've been forgiven you should forgive.  Give grace and mercy.

Grace is knowing that I don't deserve anything, that my righteousness is as filthy rags, that I should be just a beggar, but I can be dressed as a Princess because I am chosen, part of a royal priesthood.  That's grace and mercy.

February has come and gone, pretty much. Two months of this year of grace, and it's been good and it's been bad but I'm learning, that as I accept His grace, I am better able to give it.  And as I focus on Him, I see grace and mercy and all of His gifts and again, I am overcome.  Just flat out undone.  Because His grace is not just sufficient.  It is grace that fills and spills over and saturates. 

Grace.  And mercy.  Thank You, Lord.