Grace

In April my son Jack went to outdoor camp with his fifth grade class. He had so much fun! Upon return, the 5th grade classes were assigned to write a newspaper about their trip. They were split up in groups by their "cabins" (about 8 kids). Each member of the cabin was assigned 3 articles to write. As a reward for turning in the articles (all three) the teacher is giving them a free DVD of camp which he is making on his own time. My son became the editor and set out to make a very cool newspaper for his group. He has had sooooo much fun creating it and taking the articles from his friends and adding graphics. I have enjoyed watching him take on this project with such a great joy and attitude...effort and perseverance are the two words I used with him this morning!


But there is one person in his group who has had excuse after excuse for not getting the articles to Jack. And he said it wasn't fair that he wouldn't get a DVD...that his mom would email the teacher and he would get one! All things that frustrated Jack. Jack reminded him and only was told to mind his own business.


The newspaper was due in today...complete. Last night this particular boy whom I babysit a few days a week after school, was picked up by his mom, was reminded by Jack that the articles were not in and Jack needed to be done by bedtime. So after much "it's not fair" from the other boy...we, late in to the evening received the articles via email from the family.


This morning Jack was not happy. He felt that everyone else had made a huge effort to get the articles in to him early. A few kids even had their moms bring them over for a few hours so they could get them in to the paper together. So this morning at 6:30 am, Jack was sitting on my bed telling me how unfair it was that he had to put those articles in the paper.


Quickly the Lord reminded me of a truth in God's Word that I had just read the other day. Before I grabbed my bible though I gave it some time and told Jack that it was okay to feel his feelings and that no it was not fair in our eyes. After about a half hour of time, I told Jack I wanted to read him something. I sat on the chair next to my bed and thumbed through my bible. I told Jack I had just read this the other day and felt like it was for this moment.



Matthew 20
Parable of the Vineyard Workers “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.
3 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.
6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’
7 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’
“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’
8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’
13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

I didn't tell him this for him to feel bad. And we talked about what this passage meant to him at this moment. No it didn't seem fair. But it isn't up to us to pass judgement. God knows right from wrong. God knows our hearts and our intentions. Jack's job is to do the best job he can and turn in the best work he can. Whatever someone else decides to do and the attitude that goes along with it isn't up to us. We can only be an example of who God is. We must be generous in our Grace just as God is. It is easy to become resentful when we work hard and long and someone else works a little but gets the same reward.

Jack and I sat for a while thinking about this scripture and where our hearts needed to be at this moment. The son who didn't want this boy to have the same reward as he would get. The mom who knew how he was feeling. The God that gives grace to that boy and to the son and mom. And a God who wants us to be like Him and give that grace back to others freely.

Jesus hung on a cross and died for us.

He said "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing?" Luke 23:34

When we stand before the King, it will only be how we lived our lives for Him that matters...How did we love...How did we serve...How did we show grace and mercy...How were we ambassadors for Him?

Do we need to let something go that is crowding out God's place in our hearts? Do we need to show some grace in places we are struggling? Put it in your hand and give it over to our God. Extend Grace. Even when it doesn't seem fair in our eyes.

Love, Teresa