Two themes for a blog post rolled around my mind last week. The first was the ever important role of "Dad", which I wrote and posted here. The second theme supersedes that post and every post that could ever be written, for it is "God's Grace."

Somehow, as I wrote the one, on the impact our husbands have in the lives of our children, I left out the other, the crucial aspect of God's Grace in their dear, shepherding lives.  A Dad-friend Graciously responded to my post with these words, "I'm grateful for Grace."

Yes.  Grace.

Grace, Grace, God's Grace,

Grace that can pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, Grace, God's Grace,

Grace that is greater than all my sin.

Grace.

Parenting is not the easy equation of a + b = c.  No matter how many times I confess to you I am trying to unlock all mysteries in our lives as we search for Joy, Peace, Hope, Salvation... the answer always comes down to that one word.  Grace.  God's Grace.  His goodness to transform us in our weakness, by His strength.  His kindness to fill in the holes of our parenting in the lives of our children.  His over-arching and superseding parental love.  His right to redeem all our wrongs.  The loving way He convicts us when we are off, and redirects us to make us right.  All Him.  All undeserved, unmerited, and unearned.  His Grace poured out into our lives daily, in all aspects of our journey here. Dads, Moms, Sons, Daughters, Men, Women, Grandpas, Grandmas, Friends, Brothers, Sisters, Employers, Employees, Neighbors, and Friends.  Grace.

All of us set our minds on doing what we perceive as right and good, yet we are all lacking:  Fallen, proud, sinful, and distracted by selfishness. It is by His Grace alone that lives are touched through fallen souls like me, like my husband, my paster, this friend who reminded me again of Grace.  It is Grace that our children grow up to know and love the Lord.  It is grace alone, and God alone that they come to know Salvation.  It is Grace that I am breathing and writing.  It is grace that I've the freedom to stand up after I have finished putting down these thoughts and go to church this morning with my family.  Grace.

And yet our Gracious Lord uses redeemed sinners like you, like me, to share in the joy of spreading His message of grace to those in our lives.  Yes, even to the uttermost ends of the earth.  All fallen, all redeemed people, all recipients of grace, extending grace. 

Amazing.

Amazing.  

Amazing Grace.