Love and Logic

"There will always be second chances, and you'll always be on your first try." That Stellar Kart song draws me to His grace as it should. Clearly, God is a God of second chances. He draws us to himself and the slate is wiped clean. But if it's wiped clean, then how do we learn how to keep from making the same mistakes over and over again? Where does loving grace meet the harsh realities of life? One of the challenges for Marilyn and I as parents has always been to understand how to extend grace to our kids as they grow up while teaching them the way the world works. After all, it looks so easy on the Cosby show but seriously, how do we bring that "magic" of maturity into our kids real and difficult worlds so that they may become all that the Father had in mind in the beginning?

For me it's helpful to look at how God "parents" us. Clearly, our loving heavenly Father is quick to forgive and give those second chances but I am reminded that though he removes our guilt and shame restoring peace to our troubled soul, he never removes the consequences of our wrong action. If I overeat, I can be forgiven but I might still gain a half a pound. If Marilyn burns the roast in the oven (which she never does), the family will forgive but the roast is still toasted! Our actions are forgiven but there are still consequences to live with and it's those consequences that teach us how to do it right. "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed." Hebrews 12: 11-12.

In my mind, there should be second chances at our house provided we have the balance of consequences to let reality teach as it should. "God help us to parent, like you parent. Help us to be quick to forgive and quick to extend ourselves to our kids while they learn but remember that though consequences may be uncomfortable and sometimes even inconvenient for our familys' busy lifestyle, they are most necessary as we learn how your world works. Amen!"