Grace Lifts Us Up

I remember the little hands that placed the ornaments along the tree perimeter, filling only the branches they could reach, leaving space to be filled by bigger decorators with longer arms.

But the coveted star was theirs to place as well. Unable to reach this place on their own, but their daddy wanting them to experience the thrill of placing that star atop the tall tree, he lifted them up so for just a moment they could see with their dad’s eyes, and reach with his arms, and experience a place that, on their own, was not attainable.

It’s the picture of grace, the intangible power of God’s presence in our lives that fills the gap from where we are to where we long to be.

Grace is not a blessing from a benevolent ruler that says, “Ok, I’ll let you get away with that (pat on head) because you’re lame and weak — what else can I expect from you?” No — grace is a current of power that lifts us up.

Grace says, “I want you to experience this place, this view, this encounter with Awesomeness but I know you can’t on your own, so I’ll lift you.” Grace offers a glimpse of where we’re going so we don’t get discouraged and despair from our limited abilities and vision.

Grace holds us steady in the unsure places where we walk and stretch up on tiptoes.

I sat in the hospital room feeling shame that at a time like this all I could think about was lilacs. The lilacs were just starting to bloom in my yard and my two-month-old son had just been admitted to the hospital — again. I knew the drill. Two weeks of intravenous antibiotics and the lilacs would be a brown, faded memory by the time we were released.

My mom had lilac bushes and I grew up with their fragrance gracing our home each spring. I would walk to the backyard every day during lilac season, stand before the French lilac bush and inhale. Lilacs are nature’s perfume. Finding an heirloom lilac bush in the yard of our new home was confirmation for me that the little cottage on Dora Lane was where I belonged.

But, this spring I would miss the lilacs and my face burned with shame that this was what made me cry as I held my sick baby. I wanted him well, healthy, and free to grow, but what we were facing was the aftermath of extensive surgery and the confirmed diagnosis of a chronic illness. And all I could think about was lilacs?

As I sniffled and tried to pull myself together, I heard a “Hello” from around the corner and in the doorway appeared the mother of one of my first-grade students.

In her hands, she held out to me a basket of purple lilacs

Grace meets us exactly where we are with flowers and a smile. Grace shows up when we expect nothing and feel like we deserve even less.

Grace extends beyond the edges of our ragged hearts and scoops us back into His arms.

Grace corrals our fears and reminds us that only the most compassionate God can lift our heads from shame to joy.

“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” Psalm 3:3 (ESV).

As this same boy got older and received a miracle or two from God, he tested boundaries and looked for his identity. At times, it seemed our relationship was stretched and my husband and I found ourselves, as I suspect many parents do, exasperated and shaking our heads at his behaviors and attitude.

I nagged over grades, homework, dirty rooms, and brooding. He pushed back with the silent treatment and slammed bedroom doors.

But when he found himself in troubled water over his head, he humbled his pride and asked for our help.

With no condemnation or tirades, just silent support and showing up in the midst of his shame and pain, he learned grace.

From reaching for the tops of Christmas trees to understanding the depth of his parent's love and support, grace lifted him.

Later he would pen a story for the church blog expressing how his parents put a face on grace for him during a time when he fully expected punishment and shame.

When we show up for others in the gaps of ugly sin and shame, we bridge them to grace. We lift them from where they are to where they want to be. We show them how grace lifts us up and keeps on lifting day after day after day as we recognize the gap between Creator God and created.

A Prayer for Grace

May we receive His grace with the eagerness of the small child who knows his daddy can empower him with an ability he cannot attain in his own strength and effort. May our silent prayers always be in honest cries void of shame, making room for his grace to walk in the door with a bouquet and a promise of tomorrow.

God, deconstruct our training in hustle and striving and reconstruct our minds to receive grace, supernatural power, and wisdom. Engage our minds and imagination with your thoughts for what’s possible when we fall into the grace you offer.

Amen.

This story is published in Koinonia — stories by Christians to encourage, entertain, and empower you in your faith, food, fitness, family and fun.

We are a Smedian Publication. Find out about us and how to write for us.

Our Koinonia pub headline