The Forgiveness Chair

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 Hannah’s compassionate heart usually delivers conviction for her could-be-more-merciful mother. As my third-born models empathy in action, I’m reminded that I harbor that virtue in short supply, especially within the walls of my own home. I guess you could say I practice selective compassion.  While the very thought of an orphaned child brings me to tears, the reality of my own child’s bad day may fail to prick my heart (I can’t believe I just admitted that).
 
 Lately, I’ve been asking God to heigthen my sense of grace. Just as a prisoner loosed from chains is more grateful for freedom, so a mommy aware of undeserved mercy is more likely to share it.
 
Not long ago, God answered my prayer with a four-foot-tall teacher right beneath my roof.
 
Joshua had been banished to his time-out chair after pushing Maggie into the coffee table in a fit of frustration. As my three year protested  from his room, I tended to the small cut on Maggie’s forehead. Tattooed with a hot pink band-aid, Maggie recovered quickly. Her offender, however, did not. Joshua’s anger eventually morphed into mournful cries. Finally, Hannah finally found me in the kitchen and pleaded her brother’s case.

“Mom, isn’t Josh’s time-out over?”

“No,” I replied, “He has four minutes to go.”

“But, Mom, he’s been in there forever!”


Sternly, I reminded Hannah of the house rules. Time outs don’t officially begin until the screaming has ceased. Then, the bottom-on-chair time must equal one minute plus the offender’s age. The noisy complaints from Joshua’s bedroom shred Hannah’s hope of convincing me differently. Defeated, my mercy-giver slumped away.

However, moments later she was back with a bounce in her step.  “Mom,” Hannah began with her hands pressed in prayer, “I know Josh has to sit until he’s quiet, but could he PLEASE just move to the FORGIVENESS chair now?”

I raised an eyebrow as Hannah beckoned me to follow.  “I got it all set up in my room.”

I grabbed Maggie and headed for the girls’ bedroom. There, I stifled a giggle as I beheld the forgiveness chair: a  purple beanbag adorned with shaggy pillows, fuzzy blankets and a cupful of left-over Valentine’s Day candy.

As I peered at God’s six-year-old ambassador of grace, I thanked Him for the beautiful picture of His boundless mercy.  Then, Hannah invited Joshua to finish his punishment in the luxurious lap of the Forgiveness Chair. And I thanked God for reminding me that grace is the best measuring stick for all of His children, even for mommies who long ago outgrew the time out chair. 

Today’s Treasure:  Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.-Ephesians 4:13,  The Message

Alicia

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