Third Monday Blessing: grace

Did you know I was once a 5th grade teacher? Yep, I served a few years in special ed and a few in gen ed classrooms. Quite the experience.

I wasn’t really ready for what awaited me in that first assignment. I was a little (a lot?) too confident in my ability to win kids over, build relationships with them, and create an effective, warm, and flexible learning center. It was a rocky start.

It took me quite a while to figure it out, but I did discover one thing about children’s behavior that was (almost) always true…

Even as my darlings Lee and Allan were driving me to walk away from the field, I knew – deep down I was sure – they came by their disrespect, belligerence, and smart mouths honestly. They were products of their environments and had lived through and with heartache, disappointment, and darkness on the minute and daily since they could remember. And, although, yes, we are all responsible in some measure, large or small, for how we respond to what surrounds us, they were just boys. Boys who had seen and heard things that should have never been.

Let’s consider what it must have been like for them in their toddler and primary school years as the Christmas season approached. How many times had they heard … ???

You better watch out,
you better not cry,
you better not shout,
I’m telling you why.
Santa Clause is coming to town.

He’s making a list,
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice.
Santa Claus is coming to town

He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!

by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie

How many times would they hear that song and lose any hope they had of being on the Nice List?? They knew who they were and what they were doing, how they acted, and what the world – and Santa Clause – saw. I just wonder what that was like for them.

The Naughty and Nice Lists. Oh, please – shouldn’t all of us be on both?

And when it comes to kids being kids, can we talk for a minute about poor Rudolph? I’ve enjoyed that story as much as anyone else, especially the stop-motion animated production of the 60’s.

But let’s look more closely at the story line. In fact, Rudolph was bullied and excluded until he had something to offer. Until he could guide the sleigh, assuring Santa’s gift deliveries, Rudolph was completely on the outs.

Even at this glorious time of year, we hear the message, whether loud or subtle, that we must earn what we want and often get what we deserve. Bad behavior is punishable, and the result of good behavior is reward.

But God looks at us differently than we see each other. He has the inexplicable habit of granting grace, even as we continue to bend the rules, break the laws, and defy Him in infinite ways.

He grants grace. Undeserved favor. Good golly, Miss Molly.

He doesn’t wait for us to do something good. He doesn’t have a list. He doesn’t withhold or begrudge. He never says, “I know if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake.” He simply loves us.

That love was made real to us at Christmas –

Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see.
Hail the incarnate Deity.
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Music by Felix Mendelssohn and William H. Cummings
Lyrics by George Whitefield and Charles Wesley

Despite all the ways that people mistreated each other, grew more selfish throughout history, and ignored God, He decided to come to Earth, live with us, and show us his unfailing love. And His grace.

He loves Lee and Allan without limits – with no regard for their “behavior.” And admit it. He would have loved Rudolph, shiny nose and all.

My lovelies, let’s stop looking for reasons to like or reward people. Let’s ditch the lists. Let’s build our lives and relationships on finding ways to help, love, support, and respect each other – even if we don’t receive help, love, support, or respect in kind.

Let’s not be restricted by the good we require. Instead, let’s spread grace, richly, sweetly, and in ridiculous quantity, all with wild abandon.

I wish for you, this sweet holiday season, grace given, grace received. And until then, I send once more …

photo AI generated by Freepik