everyday grace

pickle and bubba goofing around with photo booth

I asked him five times.  Once last night, and this morning four times.  He was very excited to be having a field trip today.  He is heading to the very top of Pikes Peak.  He needs a sack lunch.  As we pulled out of the driveway I asked him again.  Do you have your winter coat?  gloves?  your lunch?  Yes.  He had everything.

We drive the 20 minutes to school (hubby normally does--but it's a bad back day).  The kids pile out and I wish them a good day and drive off.  I drive 20 minutes home.  I'm ready to grab my things and head to Panera for my Tuesday morning mini-sabbath.  Hubby met me before I even got out of the car.  He was holding Bubba's lunch.  I couldn't believe it.  Apparently my son had tried to chase me down in tears as I was driving away...poor boy.

Pickle apparently responded to her brother's cries, tried to call me on my cell (I had it on vibrate) and eventually gave him her lunch for his trip.  She was hoping I'd make it back in time so she could get her lunch back, but she wasn't sure if I would.

So, I didn't like it, but I knew what I needed  to do.  I gathered my things along with his lunch.  Gotta get back there before he leaves on his trip.  Frustration abounded.  What about what I need to do?  It will be another hour before I can start my day now.  I asked him specifically about his lunch.  More than once. The spinning, selfish thoughts. Ugh.

Then I stop.  I remember.  Just yesterday emily posted this story about being shown grace and mercy as a child.  I commented that I hoped I would respond the same way if faced with a similar situation.  And look--I had my opportunity to practice grace with my son already! I jotted him a note on heart paper that said, "oops.  I love you." and inserted it in his lunch.

And God reminded me about how I pray for Pickle and Bubba to get along well.  She seems annoyed by his very existence often these days.  She's a teenager, I know.  He's a little brother, I know.  It's not always easy to be kind.  This morning Pickle showed compassion and kindness to her little brother.  I was touched--that was really sweet.

So, I took the heart paper back out and wrote her a note for her lunch.  I need to affirm that kindness when I witness it.

So...even though my cell phone died as I pulled into the school parking lot which meant I needed to return home one more time before my panera time, and that I couldn't text Pickle to tell her that her lunch was waiting for her at the office...it was still a beautiful morning.  I  got the chance to show the grace I hoped to show.  I remembered to do it.  Bubba experienced it--I saw it in his face as he mouthed "thank you" to me from his desk.

I got to peek at the part of my teenaged daughter that cares for and protects her brother.  I saw her showing grace today.  I could think of many other ways she could have reacted.  She put her own needs aside for his.

Yes, it was a beautiful morning.