Setting Grace.....

Setting Grace.....

       Many of you know my oldest daughter is named Lindsey Grace. She inherited her name after Dr. Robert Smith, the Godliest man I have ever had the privilege of meeting. He was the preaching professor at Southern while we were at Seminary. I can honestly say that every single time I came in contact with him, he radiated Jesus. That may not make sense to you, but if you have ever met someone who did, you know what I mean.

          It was during our stay at Seminary that we came to need that man in ways I could have never imagined. Few people know this, but Gary almost quit the ministry. It was his first, true, crippling, bout with depression and he shut down. He did nothing that semester and had no way of finishing. Exhausted, defeated, and hopeless, he went in to officially quit after three years. He had to go to Dr. Robert Smith, his advisor, to do this. Dr. Smith heard him out, looked at him and simply said, “No.”

       He wouldn't accept quitting. He made Gary finish. Held his feet to the fire. Loved him, encouraged him and allowed him an extension. Bent the rules, Another chance. Undeserved, unmerited...favor

     I will never forget how truly special Gary's graduation from Seminary was to us. The battle was long and hard, but he finished, with the help of a very special man. Dr. Smith even spent some time with our family that day. I'll never forget Gary's answer when he was asked, “If you could walk out of Seminary taking only one lesson, what would the most important one be? Gary smiled and said “ I learned Grace.”

     Years later when we found out that we would have a girl, Gary contacted Dr. Smith and told him that our daughter would be named Grace.... a constant reminder of the gift we had been given.

     Upon having my precious daughter, I asked God to use her to constantly remind me about the grace we had received from not only Dr. Smith, but also from God.

         There have been times, looking back, maybe I should have worded my prayer a little more carefully....

     Lindsey is an absolute jewel, a gift from the hand of God. I am sure she will rule the world one day. God has incredible plans for this little girl. I can't wait to see who she will become.  She is so incredibly smart, funny, and most of all... strong willed.

     My sister actually said years ago that she was concerned about how difficult it had been raising sweet Lindsey. She said she wanted me at Lindsey's wedding. I needed the chance to see her grow. At the rate we were going, I wouldn't make it.

I told her I would be at her wedding, I would just be in the corner eating glue.

It really hasn't changed much. Lindsey is, and will always be my greatest challenge.

     Last week was no exception. She had been working on a spanking for a few days. Her almost ten year old “I know everything, you know nothing,” attitude had gotten way out of hand. I had just about enough, and told her that she was treading on dangerous ground.

     She kept pushing, and I snapped. I would no longer tolerate her disrespect. I told her to bend over because she was getting a spanking.

Yes, we spank our children. It works for us.

      Well, Lindsey is VERY strong and I couldn't wrangle her. She flipped and flopped. I didn't feel I could safely administer punishment, so I told her “ Fine... wait... Daddy will be home soon.”

     She quickly realized that her options were getting worse. She began begging and pleading for me to go ahead and spank her. Her statement was comical, “She wouldn't have a butt left if daddy got a hold of her.” I entertained her petition, and exhausted, I just said, “No.”

    As the night progressed, Gary and I talked about what she had done. I got to thinking how I didn't want to ever spank her out of anger and hurt. She had broken my heart and I didn't wanted to react to that. I told her to just go to bed.

 I was hoping her close call would get her attention.

      The next morning she started again. From the moment she got up, IT WAS ON! After several warnings her daddy stepped in fulfilled the promise given only the night before. She screamed and cried and put on the best performance of her life.

She was getting her consequences, the ones she deserved.

The car ride to school was painfully silent. I was still fuming over the morning and she was still silently crying. Then, I heard her say it. I wasn't sure I heard her right, so I asked her to repeat it.

“Thank you for setting grace on me last night.”

Intrigued, I asked her explain. She said, “The spanking that I got today, I deserved last night. You gave me grace instead. I didn't realize how much grace you set on me until I got my punishment today. Thank you mommy, I am sorry.”

“Setting Grace.” Her words swirled around me as I drove. I kept thinking about my own life. I replayed some of my epic failures. How many times have I overlooked God's grace? Unmerited favor extended to me. Why do we have to have the consequences to humbly come to the point and say “I should have gotten this all along.”

   She is showing me more of Jesus' s love for His children every day. We are all “setting grace” examples of a loving God who ultimately extended unmerited favor upon people who have the choice to completely reject and ignore His commands.

    Once again I have had my prayer answered. Once again that precious little girl is a living example of God's love and God “ setting His grace on me.”