Humbled, Again

Humbled, Again

christian living, faith walk, grace, humility, impatience, life experience, Prayer, relationships, resilience, restoration

Can I be honest? I found myself more than irritated with the “customer service” rep on the other end of the phone. I thought my request was simple enough, but I ended up with a bigger mess. Sadly, my irritation was obvious, and I was more direct than needed with the agent. Sad face.

My quick words with their edgy tone have been an uphill battle for me. How is it that my love of words is also a tripping hazard? 

My sweet husband reminds me that all isn’t lost and I have made progress in this verbal arena. He says I’m slower to be reactive and harsh with my words. Yay! But I still ask myself what have I done to soften my tone and find gentler/kinder phrasing? 

  • I confess to the Lord, who is always there, ready to listen.
  • I admit that I still struggle to soften my words and my tone. 
  • I ask forgiveness from the Forgiver of all. 

As I am humbled again, by His grace,

  • it occurs to me that the customer service rep also needs an apology from me. 

Feel free to check on me and ask me how the apology went. I’ll appreciate the accountability. 

If there is a lesson you are learning on repeat, would you please share it with me in an email?  I’d love to pray for you as you graciously learn to repeat the lesson less often!

“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4

“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” Proverbs 21:23

Why Age and Grace go Together

Why Age and Grace go Together

christian living, faith walk, God first, grace, impatience, life experience, parenting, relationships, resilience

In my teens I thought thirty somethings were over-the-hill, ancient people. Then when I turned 30, it felt like a light clicked on and I understood life better.  After all, I was the oldest I had ever been. 

My husband and I carried this phrase into parenting. We used to say, often with a knowing chuckle, “they are the oldest they have ever been.” The reason for the phrase was to recall our own growth journey and in turn find grace for our children.  

At two, our toddler son felt like the king of the world with all his new abilities.  Often saying, “I do it myself!”  The confidence with each stage of development continued – single digit to tween, we’d say, “He’s the oldest he’s ever been.” When he was 18, was a senior in high school AND living at home, unique challenges and lively discussions abounded about house rules, freedom of choice and personal responsibility. 

That son is now respectably closer to forty than eighteen. He’s more mature and thankfully, so am I.

I saw my forties as a great awakening of sorts.  I dug deep into who I was – a child of God and my parents, baby sister to 4 siblings, but also a wife for 20 years, mom to three who was seeing life through her own longer lived experience. 

The grace part became beautifully and deeply real.  I needed to give grace like I had already received it. 

Aging is an ebb and flow of living and learning. Wherever the Lord has you on the “you are as old as you’ve ever been” continuum, look in the mirror and accept that there is grace enough for you at every age. Then, freely give others lots of grace for their aging experience.

We are all the oldest we have ever been!

“… he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…” Ephesisans 2:7-8

“…to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight…” Ephesians 1:6-8