Grace makes room…

for them to tell us things about themselves that we might not be excited to hear.  Grace makes room for them to voice their doubts and fears.  Grace makes room for them to walk with us through adult issues they are struggling with.  Grace makes room for them to tell us things about ourselves that we might not be excited to hear. (p. 196)

Grace recognizes our kids are sinners…

and the only real solution is the work of Christ on their behalf. (p.216)

Grace is a daily reminder…

of how desperately you need a Savior as well. (p. 218)

I read these words and my heart is torn wide open. Maybe it was the vivid picture of watching the Easter drama this past weekend at church and seeing  how Jesus parented the 12.  His eyes were filled with grace and compassion as they lived all human and needy in front of Him. Or maybe, it is the effect of  my commitment to spending a year in grace and letting grace spend a year in me.  Either way, Grace Based Parenting is bringing the concept of grace to a real applicable place in my life.

I have asked myself some tough questions this week: Does my parenting give room for honest give and take discussions with my kids about life and their struggles?  Am I willing to hear areas that I need to work on, from the lips of my children?  Do I get annoyed by their sin – bothered that it costs me something – and {over} react to it?  Or am I giving them the tools to learn how the Holy Spirit can give them the strength to overcome their sin and walk in victory?  Do I hand out the grace that was freely handed out to me?

The Grace Based Parenting journey for me has just begun. I have been inspired throughout this study and will need to re-visit this book many times in the days ahead.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to:

Parent the way God parents us.

Daily walk with Christ and have a true heart activated plan.

Give real time gifts of grace when my girls are different and vulnerable.

Have a home that makes room for candidness and recognizes we are all sinners under this roof?

I love how Dr. Kimmel ends the book.  He says, “If the only thing you get right as parents  is His grace, everything else will be just fine” I’m grateful that His grace is all sufficient.  I’m grateful that God is the perfect Grace Based Parent, and that He is the best teacher for this grace hungry mom.

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Now it is your turn! What has stirred you heart in the last 4 weeks from this Grace Based Parenting discussion?  Did you buy *the book?  Do you have some tough questions you need to ask yourself?  Is there room in your home for grace?  I’d love to know what you are thinking! Also, be sure to visit the Family Matters Blog and check out their amazing grace filled resources!  You can also follow them on Twitter and find them on Facebook.

More on Grace Based Parenting:

Intro

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

*affiliate link