The Well

MERCY!

Oh, did I ever need these verses this week! It does our heart good to know that God is for us and not against us. He is merciful and gracious; slow to get angry and full of unfailing love. Did you need to be reminded of that today?

Three years ago, on a Thursday night, Jessica called to tell me that she and Shaun were having problems and asked me if she and the children could move in. Well, I honestly didn't know what to say. After all, we already had Michelle and her two children living with us. Our house was full of people, furniture, and wall-to-wall things! Of course, that didn't stop Jessica from getting totally bent out of shape and feeling rejected.

Please hear me when I say that I love my daughter. She is just a very difficult person to live with. She has mood swings that are off the chart, she doesn't pick up after herself or her children, and she lives impulsively. On top of those things, she gets upset if anyone suggests she try to live differently. Yet, she doesn't understand why people don't want to live with her.

My mind went back to the time we appeared on Oprah and Ms. Winfrey told me that allowing her to live with us and disrespecting us was abusing her! Can I tell you that when she said that her statement was breath taking? It took me several years to get the courage to ask Jessica and her children to leave. There is just a strange bond between us, although it isn't a healthy one.

So, I had to think about grace. The main thing God has called me to do for her is – love her! I don't necessarily need His grace to do that, but I definitely needed His grace to tolerate her hanging up on me when I told her our home was full and I didn't know what we would be able to do about her situation, and she screamed at me that no one loved her!

Without a doubt I made some wrong choices during her life that affected her, but as an adult she too has made some wrong choices and instead of accepting responsibility for them she wants me to accept responsibility and shoulder the blame for her. Such is the life of too many young people today. Granted it is hard for single parents to make it on their own, that's why people end up living with folks. It's easier than getting married I guess.

In my opinion that is raping grace. God's love is truly unmerited. I do not understand how He works. I know that, in this life we will reap the consequences of our choices, even when we repent. Somehow it is just easier to suffer those consequences knowing that He is holding you in the palm of His hand in the process. I guess that's what brought me through the week. I hope it helped Jessica. She knows Him. It's just been a long time since she took the time to meet with Him face to face. Maybe that time is just ahead for her. Please keep her in your prayers.