I’m excited to welcome my dear friend and talented writer, Abby McDonald, to share with us today for the Listen Close, Listen Well series.

Abby McDonald is a mom, wife and writer who desires to show women the hope of Christ in the middle of life’s messes. When she’s not chasing her two little boys around, you can find her writing about her adventures on her blog, Fearfully Made Mom. You can connect with Abby on her blog, on Twitter or Facebook.

His Grace Isn’t Just for Yesterday

By Abby McDonald

“I sorry, Jay! I sorry!”

I heard my four-year-old’s shouts from outside the kitchen and stopped cutting the raw chicken in front of me. My oldest child was screaming and holding his forehead in pain, squeals high-pitched like nails on a chalkboard.

After taking a deep breath and asking both boys what happened, I learned that little one had come tumbling down the slide while big brother was still on it, causing him to fall on his face. I drug the culprit inside and placed him in the time out chair while he shouted protests, not realizing the strength of my own grip.

As he sat there with tears streaming and I continued cutting meat for dinner, I tried to control my rising blood pressure. I wondered if the boys would ever play peaceably together while I made a meal.

I also realized, with shock and a little remorse, that my anger over the situation was worse than my son’s. He was the one hurt, but he had gone back to playing happily on the swing set.

When I walked my youngest back outside and made him apologize, I saw that my firstborn had already forgotten the incident.

“That’s okay, Gabe,” he said, and the two continued going up and down the climbing wall.

In the space of five minutes, my son put the past behind him and moved on, ready for the next adventure or game between brothers.

I watched the two play through the window and started on the vegetables. While the sun set behind the mountains and the sky darkened, God brought to mind an old, familiar verse:

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 NIV

I can’t help but think about a child’s uninhibited ability to forgive when I read this verse.

And I as I recite those words in my head, I know what God is pressing on my heart. It’s not my children who I have difficulty forgiving. It’s myself.

My kids say “sorry” and move on, and I continue replaying a missed opportunity where I knew God was asking me to extend an invitation.

My kids say “sorry” and move on, and I continue thinking about something I should have said or done differently.

Even after confessing to my merciful and forgiving Father, I hold onto my shortcomings with a grip so fierce it disturbs. It disrupts the rhythm of grace, and comes spewing out in misdirected anger and hurtful tones.

We can’t extend grace to others if we can’t accept it for ourselves.

We may try. We can put on a happy face and pretend for a while. But eventually, we hit a wall. We run into the chest of our Father, and while we pound our fists against Him He’s asking us one thing.

Let it go.

Let go of the past and let Me love you. I have forgiven you. Now you must forgive yourself.

We can’t move forward in today if we’re still holding on to the regrets of yesterday.

As I sit here typing this, I’m accepting God’s invitation. I’m laying down the baggage I’ve carried with me, and laying it at the feet of the One who bore all of it on the cross.

His grace isn’t for a moment or one day when you miss the mark. It is life, given to be breathed in and lived out with each step we take.

Are you living in a moment where you messed up and can’t move forward? Confess it. Hand it over.

Then live in the here and now, thanking God for a day when His mercies are new.

Letting Go,
Abby

Get caught up on the other “Listen Close, Listen Well” posts below:

Not Ours to Give Away by Tiffany Parry

Lean In My Daughters by Kerrington Sweeney

Listening When It’s Loud by Teri Lynne Underwood

Fear and Doorknobs by Kim Osterholzer

What God Wants by Crystal Hall

Preparing a Place by Abby Bandfield

The Luxury of Listening by Ashley Hales