Mom Heart Moments #98

He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.

APRIL WAS ABLOOM WITH tiny buds beginning to burst, daffodils pushing through the cold ground, and all the promise of spring pulsing through our home. The Saturday before Easter found my girls and me working together to prepare our traditional feast for about twenty people. Teenager Joy had decided to make the deviled eggs, so she’d hard-boiled two dozen. Then she got a bright idea of how to make it easier to fill them.

Her effort to stuff a flimsy, plastic sandwich bag with egg filling resulted in a mess everywhere. My first reaction was frustration. Suddenly, the Lord poked my heart and gave me eyes to see this hormonal young woman —my sweet little girl —in the throes of growing up. Insecurity and frustration flashed from her dark eyes as she watched me clean up her mess. When I was finished cleaning and pondering the situation, I took her to our den couch and gave her a cup of tea.

“Joyness,” I began, “you have been so exceedingly helpful and thoughtful today. The table you set looks lovely; the groceries are put away, and you have labored by my side for hours. I don’t know what I would do without your help. Many times I have baked bread and then burned it, or grilled something outside that ends up tough as nails. So, I know how you must have felt when the bag kept breaking and the mess just poured out. You are such a treasure to me, and I know you were trying to do a good job. Thanks so much for all the ways you have helped me this week!”

Suddenly, a sheepish grin crossed her face. She climbed into my lap; long, gangly, teenage legs and all, and said, “I am so thankful that you always love me, Mommy.” A kiss on the cheek . . . and she was gone.

How might God want to offer grace to you, knowing your limitations, today? How might you receive it?