I love my mom but I need God’s grace to help me do it well.  Because of her condition there are times when it is very hard to deal with her.  She has opinions but they are not rational.  She refuses to do things but things need to be done.  She doesn’t always change her clothes when they need to be changed.  But in the middle of all of these challenges God’s grace shows up in marvelous ways.  Sometimes it brings about mom’s compliance, sometimes laughter and sometimes tears.  Looking for God’s grace has become my strength as I care for her.

This week God’s grace led to mom’s compliance.  She did not want to get in the tub for me.  She argued and kept trying to get dressed.  I couldn’t get her to understand that her clothes were dirty.  She is not rational and even when looking at dirty clothes she argued that they were clean.  The only thing I thought to do was to pray.  I asked God for help and His grace showed up.  I put my arm around her and kissed her head and said, “Mom, I love you and I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.  Let’s put these dirty clothes in a pile on the counter”.  She did it.  God’s grace led her to compliance.  After that she refused to get in the tub and I did the same thing.  This time she rolled her eyes and said, “Sure you do” but did get in the tub.  God’s grace is always at work.

Last week God’s grace led me to laughter.  I was sitting on the floor clipping her toenails.  This is the worst job for me.  It is just something about toenails that turn my stomach but God continues to give me grace to do it.  As I clipped her nails I asked her about her day.  She replied, “Well, this man that Denise knows wanted to give me something to eat.  But Denise was making me dinner so I only ate a little bit.  I didn’t want to hurt Denise’s feelings.”  I began to laugh because I thought I was sitting right there in front of her but at that time I had become someone else.  After that she asked me, “Is there a charge for this service?”  Another moment made for laughter.  God’s grace is always at work.

A few weeks ago after I had finished drying mom’s hair, she began to tell me about all of the women on the block who wanted me to help them too.  She then said, “But you’re my daughter.”  She was so sincere.  Her eyes were looking directly at me.  I hugged her and cried saying, “Yes mom, I am your daughter and I want to help you.”  God was giving me a moment of clarity with my mom, a moment of gratitude for my efforts.  God’s grace is always at work.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

God’s grace shows up to help us in so many different ways.  Our focus is mostly on the grace we receive during a trial in order to handle it or get through it.  But really, God’s grace is so much more.  His grace is unmerited favor.  So the blessings, joys, strength, peace, difficulties and surprises of life are all part of His unmerited favor to us.  Have you looked for God’s grace in your circumstances?  Can you see Him always being at work even when life is hard?  Are you looking for the laughter and the tears of grace?  We need to look for grace.  It is a gift from God to us, His children, which we cannot earn.  It is free because of Jesus.

“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”  Romans 5:2

As followers of Jesus Christ we stand in grace and rejoice in hope. Grace is powerful and as we stand in it we are able to float through the difficulties of life.  Now as I bathe my mom and look down at my feet standing in the water, I will remember that I am standing not in water but in grace.  We are all standing in a puddle of grace; God’s grace.  And God’s grace is always at work!