Me:  Prodigal, that is the cutest baby in the world!

 

Prodigal:  He is very cute, I will admit.  You might be biases though because he is related to you.

 

Me:  I will always look on him with love and I know God looks on him with love too!

 

Prodigal:  Since you have our attention, why not share one of your stories.

 

Today I am sharing from Chuck Swindoll’s book Hope Again When Life Hurts and Dreams Fade.

 

Being obedient to the truth means that we don’t have to look at others through the distorted lenses of our own biases.  We can see them as God sees them and love them as He loves them.  This has a purifying effect on us.  It purges us, not only from a limited perspective, but from prejudice, resentment, hurt feelings, and grudges.  Such purity of soul helps us love each other without hypocrisy and with a sincere love.  It doesn’t blind us to each other’s faults; it gives us the grace to overlook them.

 

When people have children, they think a lot about the name of their children.  There usually is some reason behind the name.  Of course sometimes it can be a fight between the parents and some names cannot be considered.  In the end though a name is given and it becomes more special as time goes on and they love that child.  Then just the mention of the name by someone else when you are absent from that child will bring a strong loving, caring feeling to your soul.

Now think of names that you know.  Think of co-workers, friends, family, spouses, and neighbors.  Are any of them named Grudge?  Why do you think that is?  Are any of them named Grace?  Chances are you probably know one person who has Grace in their name.  Chances are you know nobody who is named grudge.

We have all had someone hold a grudge against us and have held grudges against others.  We have all received grace and have given someone grace.  The reason grudge is not a name is because the emotion is dark, unpleasant and empty.  We do not want to focus on that.  Now think of the grace you received.  That is a warm, soothing feeling that we want to hold on to forever and not soon forget.

Now if instead of your child, you had to name your behavior for this week.  Would it be named grudge or grace?  The beauty of this is that no matter what the name would have been at this time, your behavior can change so that it will be named what you want it to be.

 

Hebrews 12:15

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.

 

Jennifer Van Allen

 

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org