A Smidge of Grace

Recently my son Benjamin had a birthday party. One of the party-goers arrived in tears, a surprising way to arrive at a party. "Did my mom talk to you about the present?" She asked. "No," I replied. "Well, I ran out of time to pick something special out for Ben. Is it okay if I get him something later?" "Of course," I replied. Later, I told Ben what had happened. "No problem," he casually responded.

Well, that was two months ago and still no present. Ben hasn't given it another thought; I've given it his second thought and my third plus some. I start off giving the benefit of the doubt...Maybe they just forgot. Maybe they're having financial troubles. Maybe she gave Ben something and he forgot to tell me. Without warning my mind loses its footing and I find myself in a mud puddle. They're doing this to slight us. What evil people they are!!

As these ridiculously petty thoughts muddied my heart today, God reminded me of a story Jesus told in the Bible. It's called the Unmerciful Servant from the book of Matthew Chapter 18. A King goes to settle an account with his servant who owes him a large sum of money. The servant cannot pay up. The law stated that the servant should sell everything he owns and his wife and children into slavery to pay what he owes. In desperation, he pleads with the King for mercy. The King gives him mercy and the servant is off the hook.

Shortly after this life-altering encounter, the servant runs into someone who owes him a small amount of money. The same servant that should be overflowing with the forgiveness he just received, attacks this guy, trying to literally shake the money out of him. Hello? Isn't this the same guy who just was forgiven a huge debt? How can he not extend this same grace to his friend?

It's easy to judge the unmerciful servant, but I see myself in him so clearly. I have been undeservedly forgiven so much by the Lord. Why am I stingy in extending a smidge of this grace to those around me? Who am I to hold a grudge over a $10 kid's toy? I am certain that I have been unknowingly forgiven by those around me countless times for sins of forgetting to follow-through on promises I've made. Please forgive me for my stingy heart, Lord, and thank you for this reminder of your generous grace.