I do not have it all together. Just because I write about self-discipline, compassion, love, faith, grace, I am, by no means, an expert on anything. I am far from it and mess up on a daily basis. In fact, my son gently said to me, “You were a little ‘sharp’ this morning.” And this was on Mother’s Day this year. ((sigh))) I have not forgotten his words or how gentle he was in telling me. I could accuse the people who try to talk to me before coffee (even after they have been warned). My son is ready for a full blown conversation if you even look him in the eye in the morning. I.am.not. My prayer in the morning should not be, “Give me coffee”, but rather, “Give me Jesus”.  I could excuse my behavior because I am not a morning person and everyone in the house should know this. I could blame my failure to ‘get it right’ on anyone and anything but myself. And I can scold myself ’til kingdom come for my too sharp tongue, but that is not what grace is about. God does not want us living constantly berating ourselves for our imperfections. We need to ask forgiveness, forgive ourselves, and move on. Every day there is new grace, new compassion, and new mercies. And I can say, “Amen” to that all day long, but I need to live it. Did you mess up this week already? Did you fail to ‘get it right’ today? That’s OK… me too. But remember this: “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is his faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. -Proverbs 24:16

365 new days. 365 new chances. I will fail to ‘get it right’ again, but how will I respond? I am a sinner saved by grace and when the Spirit tells me Himself of through another person that I have hurt someone, I can choose to stay frustrated, or rise up with dignity to a new morning, to new graces, to God’s ever present faithfulness.