30 Days of Thankfulness ~ Day 18

Sometimes I'm not a nice person. Sometimes I can be downright mean. I
say mean things. I spit fire at those I love most over the littlest
things. We like to blame hormones, lack of sleep, lack of coffee (I
think there IS something legitimate there), bad mojo, whatever. What
it boils down to is that I am a sinner. I am still in a sin-filled
world in a dying body. I let anger turn to wrath and fuel a fire that
should never be.

The very first week of our school year, our Bible verse for the week
was "A soft answer turns away wrath." Proverbs 15:3
The kids have it down pat. Friends, I had few soft answers today for
my children. In fact, my voice is a little hoarse from the mom-yelling
that happened. It's been hard for me to find the good in the day
because I just felt encased by failure and my own pride and sin.

This is where children show us the way. "A little child shall lead
them". My kids hearts to forgive right now are so huge and so ready. I
don't deserve their forgiveness but yet when I apologize and ask
forgiveness they don't just give it but they lavish it with sloppy
kisses and incredible hugs. I don't deserve them.

My kids displayed forgiveness to me today over harsh words toward them
for the childish things they had done (because they are children). But
the picture they displayed represents a greater forgiveness that is
offered us, over and over again, when we come to the feet of Jesus and
lay our sin and our ugliness before Him and He lavishes His love and
mercy on us and wraps us in His clothes of righteousness. We don't
deserve that. Not even one tiny bit. But it is given.

So tonight, after I tucked my kids in bed with a heavy sigh, glad for
the day to be over and ready for new mercies tomorrow, I am turning to
Jesus and saying, "Wash me again! Forgive me again!" And He does. And
I am so thankful for forgiveness.