Increase

My morning began with one child crying because (in our house) her refusal to eat yesterday’s supper resulted in a repeated menu for breakfast. And, because she did not like the menu anymore for breakfast then she had for supper, while I was in the kitchen fixing a bottle, she spooned about half of her portion onto her sister’s plate in an effort to appear finished.
After breakfast, 2 of my children chose to put the books they were supposed to be reading in the play yard with their baby brother so he could chew on them. (Please note that I had actually asked for this NOT to happen.)
Next, they snuck into the kitchen where they climbed a stool to reach my stash of semi-sweet chocolate chips where they proceeded to eat ALL of them. ALL of them. Like three cups worth.
The next activity was to move away from the coloring station I had carefully provided with a (BLACK!!!) crayon and color all over a wall/door in the bedroom.
Then while I was teaching this child to wash crayon off of a wall, another child was sent to the bathroom to throw away a piece of trash. Instead, she chose to pump the hand soap all over the bathroom sink and floor.
At lunch time, the saga continued. Instead of drinking the milk out of the sippy cup that had been provided, a child climbed out of her chair and crawled across the table to get MY cup of milk which she proceeded to spill over herself, the entire table, and the floor beneath. (*Sigh. I guess my floor needed mopped anyways??)

**One important side note: I WAS present and aware of my children this morning, I just am not omnipresent. I was also very aware of where my children were (at least where they were supposed to be), I am just not omniscient. Sometimes those little boogers just out-fox the system. Anyways…

Now it is naptime. Finally. I am sitting on the couch in a quiet (for now) house, eating my lunch… somewhat cold and sans milk, but lunch nonetheless. And I am encouraged. And not just because it is naptime and the house is quiet.

You see, I was growing weary in parenting. The perfect balance of truth and grace, of requiring obedience without modeling legalism, of understanding “they are kids” yet not allowing lawlessness, of discipline out of love and not out of embarrassment… well, let’s just say that the balance definitely wasn’t perfect. The balance was eluding me. And I was tired. Parenting is hard. I love my children dearly and want God’s very best for their little lives. I want them to grow up to love Jesus, to follow Him, to love and serve others. But, honestly, my kids are naughty! Often! And I was growing weary. Nothing seemed to “work.”

And then I went to church on Sunday. Our pastor always reads through the Bible passage before breaking it down and as he read these words a light bulb went off in my head and a huge burden was lifted.

“Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, … leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

~Romas 5:20-21

The underlined words above were immediately underlined in my Bible as I turned to my husband in excitement. “It is part of the gospel plan when the girls disobey!! This is a ‘parenting’ verse!!!” Apparently our pastor thought so as well, because he did spend more time in the sermon sharing how this verse related to parenting. Oh the refreshment! The encouragement!

The purpose of the law is to INCREASE the rebellion, the sin, the trespass. The goal is not to have “laws” so that my children will obey all of them! The goal is to have “laws” so that my children’s inability to obey is made evident! Because grace must be contrasted with failure. Unless I understand what my consequences SHOULD be, I do not understand what God gives me instead! His grace! His endless, abundant grace. Grace. Favor that is not deserved. Not earned. Simply given. Christ’s righteousness given to cover my unrighteousness.

I know that the story I told of my morning was really quite funny. It’s one of those “I’m a mom of young kids” stories that we tell to laugh at or remember after they have grown up. But there are other days. Days where sin abounds in ways that just aren’t as cute. The hitting, the biting, the temper tantrums. The lying, deceit, hateful speech. Those are hard days as a mom at home all day in the midst of it. Those days can break a parent’s heart. Those days can feel like defeat. But a parent that has been redeemed by God’s amazing grace can recognize that those days can be used of God. Those days could be perfectly crafted by God so that the child’s heart can be drawn to something that cannot be created by itself. Grace. Grace that can reign through righteousness. Those days can be used – even at a very young age – to introduce our children to the grace that is offered from God through Christ. The grace that can lead to eternal life in Christ.

That is why God’s plan is so very beautiful. So different than any human plan. Because God uses the ugliness, the brokeness, the absolute depravity of our lives, to reveal His beauty.

So, take heart, Mommy. Be encouraged. Be refreshed. Patiently and consistently reveal to your children their inability to obey. They need God’s grace. They need it to reign through righteousness in their lives. And we get to help them understand. We have been given such a precious responsibility. And we can smile when trespasses increase because we know this is how God designed His gospel to be made manifest.