One particular incident from my childhood always sticks out in my mind. I had accidently broken a cup and, despite knowing that I was in a loving home, my immediate reaction was one of fear – what would happen? My mother responded gently, “It’s okay, sweetie, accidents happen.” As a youngish child, that was such a pivotal experience of grace. There was no punishment, no reprimand, just gentle grace. It’s something I have always kept in mind as I raise my own children. Of course, I know I haven’t succeeded all the time. Especially on accidental matters. It always seems too easy to react with a raised voice and to add on a rebuke, “if you weren’t running this wouldn’t have happened; or if you’d just been more careful it wouldn’t have happened!” How much harder it is to show grace when the transgressions are not just accidental, but deliberate thought-out choices: hitting their brother, saying something rude, and so on. Yet God models such amazing grace to us. There
My reflections on my life and my faith, and any random thing that takes my fancy. I love semi-colons, dashes and double spaces after full-stops - and I won't apologise. Find me on Instagram @Natalie_1971