Thursday Thoughts - Picture Perfect Grace

My 6-year-old daughter, Kennedy, recently completed a month-long intensive reading program at Vanderbilt. Four afternoons a week I would make the hour-long drive each way with Kennedy and my next door neighbor’s son who was also in the program, while my neighbor kept my other four children.

The first couple weeks went along pretty smoothly. I dropped the kids off with my neighbor, picked up her son, and off we went. No problems. I actually didn’t mind the drive. It gave me time to talk on the phone, think, or even pray.

Then, one day during week three, right as it was time to leave, it started raining. It poured. Hard. Two of my other children were sick that day, so I was driving them to my mom’s house to stay while we went to Vanderbilt. When I realized that the rain wasn’t going to let up, I pulled out my umbrella and one by one I walked my children out to the car. By the time they were all inside, we were running late, I was soaked to the skin, and my makeup was running down my face. I was a sight to see, I’m sure.

When I arrived at my neighbor’s house, she looked at me, got a little smile on her face and said, “I’m so glad you’re not perfect.” She went on to explain, “Every day you come here to drop the kids off and pick up my son, and you’re wearing cute clothes and your hair and makeup is always done just right, and it’s just nice to see that you’re not always perfect.” We both laughed and I went on my way. We were very late to Vanderbilt that day.

On the way there, I thought about her statement. How many other people look at me, or my life and think that I’m “perfect”? How many times do I look at others and think the same thing judging from an outward appearance? I know for a fact that anyone who looks deep into my life and my heart would see that I am far from perfect. I mess up all the time. I know the same is true for all those people who I hold to a higher standard every day.

The truth is, none of us are perfect (Romans 3:10). We’re not perfect spouses, perfect parents, or perfect Christians. We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world, saved only by the grace of God. Sometimes it just takes a little rain to fall in our lives to remind ourselves, and others, of that.

Thank you, Lord, for your never-ending forgiveness and grace!

This post was originally written for ParentLife Online which is part of the Lifeway Christian Stores magazines. Be sure to go check it out and follow their blog! There are a lot of great parenting tips, stories, and other uplifting messages on there!