Each day we have moments where we desperately need God’s forgiveness and grace. Wake up calls to our imperfections and depravity. Perhaps like me, you remember a season that you realized the depth of this chasm. God’s grace and mercy was not just the cherry on top, but the necessary glue to keep you together. We sometimes get so comfortable that I think we forget the love we had at first for the God who gave us hope. That elated feeling of peace and joy, when we tossed all our garbage aside and said, “I trust You.”

It was one of those not so proud moments of motherhood, where instead of speaking life and encouragement to the ones I love, my words came out hurtful. It was undeserved. Through the grind of day to day, we need to be conscience of the words we speak, and the tones we speak them in. We impact those around us, whether we know it or not. Thankfully, sometimes even when we mess up, we are shown God’s grace, through the undeserved love from another, and hopefully, we can glean from those moments, reciprocating the same love to others.

I am about to get all #realtalk for a minute. Some times people annoy us. It could have been the person who stole your parking spot, or a rude comment; perhaps, it was someone being unsupportive or cold. Whatever the reason, sometimes we are on our last cherry coated straw, and it wouldn’t matter if the situation deserved our annoyance or not, they are going to get it; because at that moment, that final straw equals the stubbed toe from earlier, the burnt breakfast, the lost keys, the extra bill, the friend who you don’t talk to anymore. It’s a culmination of annoyances that haven’t been shaken off yet.

These last couple of weeks have been dicey. The busyness that accompanies a transition to a new house has certainly effected me and my family. It has taken time to fall into a new routine; no wonder God reminded me to pray for patience this morning.

The truths of a loving relationship penetrates my heart. The simple truth that God wants everyone to know and hear. When Jesus died on the cross, it was before we had a relationship with Him. He was dying for those who spit on Him as He walked the road to the cross, for sinners like you and me.

Some Bible versions say honor, other translations say respect, but the underlining meaning holds the same, it is intended to place value on another human being. People we naturally respect may range from God to a family member, perhaps someone in an authority position. I admire when people show respect to others because it is just as much an earned privilege as it is a choice from the one extending this gracious offer. I feel there are those who earned respect due to noteworthy characteristics and then there are those times we show respect to another because it is the honorable thing to do, whether they deserve respect or not.