When I creep into the room of my four-year-old early on a Tuesday morning, she’s still curled up in her pink quilt with blonde hair across her forehead. I open her blinds.
“Good morning, sweetheart.”
A smile spreads on her face before she even opens her eyes.
“Is it a preschool day, Mama?” Lazy she asks me, eyes still closed hanging on to her dream.
“Yes, baby.” She sits up quickly and she opens her eyes wide.
She’s surprised the by day and at her good fortune. She has won the four-year-old jackpot: spending all morning designing letter T’s with macaroni noodles, digging her hands deep in the sand and water table and creating hopeful mini-worlds with a dollhouse, two friends and a few baby-dolls.
And she’s surprised again and again. Tuesday upon Thursday upon Tuesday. She never fails to gasp and grin when she realizes it’s HER school day.
I divulged the contents of my soul to quite a few people this weekend. [and I'll stop beating the dead horse after this post, but I've noticed some very interesting things.]
Some in groups.
Some by themselves.
And some face to face during intentional meetings.
It always elicits some kind of strong response in a person. Tears fell on my behalf. And sometimes, faces quickly and subtly hardened by hearing my words, no doubt a reaction to past hurts and wrongs that I will never know.
Either way, a story of radical redemption is a surprise.
I want to always be surprised by radical grace. I never want to be caught in an Oh-That-Again attitude about the miraculous redemptive, over-the-top redemption that God gave me.
I want to be just as surprised in the gasping, grinning way as Naomi is when she wakes up on a Thursday.
Gasp.
Grin.
And then resting in the memory of that redemption.
Over and over again.
Lord, let me never become calloused to the grace You’ve offered, the sacrifice You’ve made or the road You’ve walked for me. Let me always be surprised and engaged by redemption. I don’t want to be be bored. I don’t want to be lazy and I don’t want to be comfortable in what You’ve done for me. Help me always to remember the radical nature of Your redemption.
Do you gasp and grin at God’s grace?
This post inspired by my dear friend, Judy. Thank you for believing in me.
Yes… over and over again!! I’m so undeserving, it amazes me each and every day!
“I want to always be surprised by radical grace. I never want to be caught in an Oh-That-Again attitude about the miraculous redemptive, over-the-top redemption that God gave me.”
This is EXACTLY why you must keep telling your story! If some people out there get tired of hearing it, that’s their problem.
But miraculous, over-the-top redemption is the only way we can be children of God in the first place. And the sooner we realize that redemption in our own lives – even if we think we’ve never done anything “that bad” (HA!) – the sooner Christ can truly start His good work in us and through us!
Ok, rant over now.
thank, kerry.
and it’s okay to rant here, by the way. =)
I LOVE to hear stories of God’s amazing, radical grace! It just makes my day. We serve a huge God! Awesome!
my mouth is hung open most days! I never want to be so unmoved by what He’s doing – I fear there are too many zombies walking around forgetting to even acknowledge Him. Another sunset, another cross, another birth, another baptism – golf clap.
I took my two beautiful boys for granted until I lost my 3rd pregnancy 1/2 way thru! We just thought “we can spit kids out like gum ball machines”. God showed us differently and opened my eyes – WIDE – to what miracles my two are. Unfortunately I had to lose my daughter, but I love my two sons far better now!
Sadly, others will walk around blind – but Lord let me be the last one doing touch toes!!
see, in my excitement that shoulda been toe touches!! =)
God IS awesome, but Sarah I have to tell you that you your amazing, radical faith always surprises me. I am captivated by your story and cherish your writing (and don’t say it enough). I love the sweetness of the story with Naomi and the parallel you make with our potentiall ho hum adult lives.
You’re living proof of God’s grace every day and such a treasure.
LOVE this post!!!
I am always amazed more and more as I walk this Christian walk at the grace and mercy of God. As more sin is flushed out it boggles my mind that He still chooses to love me and not give up on me.
I have been grinning more and more at God’s graces. He is always surprising me and throwing me curve balls. He challenges me in so many ways but then shows me the graces i need to stop, breathe and move forward.
Hi Sarah,
With a thankful heart I say, YES!!
Love-Oly
I pray we all experience the wonder of radical grace. I know I have and thank God for it every day.
Thank you for sharing your revelation with me. It is exactly what I needed to hear and take in today. I have been feeling imprisoned within self-imposed walls of “I’m not good, talented, smart… enough.” Thanks for the reminder to Gasp and Grin with God in this new day!
As for your recent experiences, I would have listened, gotten a little teary with you, prayed for you and shared a hug of encouragement. I hope you can take it in now online!
every. day.
I gasp. I grin. I’m speechless. Daily, it seems. He withholds no good thing . . .
Later in the evening after you and I visited the historic “Felton Bridge to nowhere” ; ) I experienced an amazing sunset on the beach, with wave after wave of crazy unpredictable riptide-driven surf rolling in, culminating in a relaxing drive up Hwy 1 to Half Moon Bay, where I had dinner and stayed the night.
I texted my daughter and said “I’m sitting here with my pockets full of rocks and seashells, and a silly grin on my heart.” Exactly what you describe here.
Radical + redeemed + transformed = you, Sarah!
100% BIG belief in you all the way, baybee–don’t stop now!
hugs,
Judy
yes, absolutely. thank you for writing from your heart, I enjoy your blog so much.