Quiet, Grace Filled Mother -Lesson 1

Grace. If I am to become a Quiet, Grace Filled Mother, I need to have a firm grasp of what that word literally means. Webster’s Online Dictionary gives the following (and more) definitions of the word Grace:

1. A state of sanctification by God.

2. Elegance and beauty of movement or expression.

3. A sense of propriety and consideration for others.

4. A disposition to kindness and compassion; benign good will: "the victor's grace in treating the vanquished".

 

Five little letters, one syllable, yet boundless implications follow the word “grace”. How can I apply these definitions to my quest, and to parenting in general?

 

The first definition says that it is a state of sanctification BY GOD. Already, that means that God is the giver and creator of grace. So, if I want grace to become part of who I am, this means that I must find it through HIM. That is both comforting and a bit daunting. I am comforted by the fact that I can go to God. I am daunted by the fact that I can’t do it alone and must go to Him

 

I love the second definition. As a teenager, I had a ballet teacher whom I simply loved to watch. Yes, she was beautiful, but it was more than that. She exuded grace in movement, in how she talked, and in the way she taught. When my children see me, do they look at me in the same way I watched my teacher, or do they cringe and avert their little eyes because I am angry and yelling at them? If I am to have grace in parenting, I have to learn to carry out my responsibilities, even discipline and correction, with grace. That is what my quest is all about! I want, need, and desire this type of grace in my job as a mother.

 

The third and fourth definitions give a glimpse of how we should go about parenting in a Quiet Grace Filled manner. Offering consideration, kindness, and compassion to our children doesn’t mean making excuses for them or letting them get away with naughtiness. It means remembering that they are children, created by God, and redirecting them in a firm but gentle manner when they make inappropriate decisions.

 

Prayer: Lord, please help me learn how to fulfill all the definitions of grace. Thank you for the promise that you will teach me all about grace. Amen.