As a child and young adult I didn’t attend church much, if at all. That is not to say my family isn’t religious or even spiritual, my parents just never found a church that fit both of their ideologies.
This being said, as an adult, finding comfort in my church has been something very important to me for the past several years. I take pride in having memorized the Apostle’s Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, passing the peace, knowing when to stand, when to sit, when to clap, when not to clap, what book to look in for which rite, and even where to find the scripture reading of the day.
However, these are just acts, rituals that I find comfort in – grace even. The predictability, the familiarity, the fellowship and strength you find when praying or even speaking in unison are all the rejuvenation I need each week. This leads me to my current thoughts on grace…
I NEED IT. I NEED IT BAD. EVERY. DAY.
When my 8 month old has just chugged a bottle because I’m trying to get ready for work, feed my other kid, feed the dog, pack the lunches, make the bottles, and then proceeds to puke all over me because of her terrible reflux.
Lord, hear our prayer.
When my 3 year old attempts to go potty on her own, only missing the toilet after she wipes, getting you-know-what all over everything in the bathroom, the baby is crying after she falls down from pulling up on ottoman I shouldn’t have let her near, the dog wants to be fed (again), and my husband will be home late for work.
Lord, hear our prayer.
When I take the oldest to a basketball game where she wiggles, squirms, shows complete disinterest in what’s going on in front her, where I succumb to her every demand to get her an Italian Ice, then flips a huge chunk of sugary syrup on the very nicely dressed woman in front of us perfectly coiffed hair.
Lord, hear our prayer.
When I trip over my husband’s shoes that he leaves in the middle of the kitchen for the 4,873rd time.
Lord, hear our prayer.
When I could have sworn up and down that they recipe I was looking at, with one hand, on my phone, while I was feeding the baby said ½ cup of garlic and not, in fact, ½ a tablespoon.
Lord, hear our prayer.
When I’ve spent an hour and a half finally creating my own fun, new, exciting math project for my students and I accidentally exit out of the document without saving.
Lord, hear our prayer.
God’s grace is an amazing thing. Once you’ve found it (which I can tell you from experience is not easy), it can calm the wildest storm, turn the loudest cries into sweet music, and it can even make you laugh when you want to scream.
I know one day I’ll miss these days of chaos. But for now, say it with me…
Lord, hear our prayer.
