I was six. I lived in New York City. I went to Epiphany Catholic School. And, I didn't have a lot of money.
My parents sacrificed dearly to put me through private schools my entire schooling career. They stood in line for government cheese when necessary. We shopped at Good Will. In NYC, they walked just about everywhere they could so they wouldn't use extra money on transportation.
And I loved them for it. But, one day, the cute little eraser in the corner store caught my eye. It cost 5¢. I knew better. It wasn't a necessity. But the mean girls at school had tons of new ones and I didn't have any.
So I swiped it.
I'm a thief.
My prize wasn't mine for long, though. Those mean girls at school - Brina and Patty - swiped it right back from me. I was showing it to my best friend, Vanessa, and they saw me. They came over to and started making fun of me and asking how I got it. I lied (sheesh, I'm a liar, too!) and said my parents got it for me. Mean 'ole Brina told me she knew they couldn't afford it! I told her it was true. And you know what she did? She threatened me. She told me that if I didn't give it to her that she would tell my dad.
I lost the eraser that day. And it ended my career as a thief. It was too costly. I not only had a guilty consciousness, I lost the prized possession and I was embarrassed. I never even told my parents until I was probably in my 30's!
Why am I admitting my life of crime some 37 years later? It's not nagging guilt.
I tell you now because I need to confess. I need grace as much as the next person.
You see, God gives grace in abundance. But, we, the humans that need it most, seem to have less of it to give. We become the judge and jury all in one. We condemn with or without the facts. And we don't care really what the person has done. We just know it was wrong and they need to pay for it.
What brings this to mind this week? Lori Loughlin. She messed up. She got caught. And now she is facing not only the legal system, but the loss of her career. And that makes me angry.
Anymore, the court of public opinion far outweighs the actual legal process. It is now demanded that no matter what a person has done, that their career needs to be handed in, as well. Now, for some jobs such as teaching and someone that has committed a crime against children, wisdom says that the person needs to be removed.
What upsets me the most is that there is no grace extended anymore. Remember the woman at the well? What about the woman who committed adultery and Jesus told her accusers that anyone without sin got to throw the first stone? What about Saul turned Paul who killed Christians before becoming one? What about Peter who betrayed Jesus? The list goes on and on and on.
But God extends grace. He knows being a human is hard work. He knows Satan is prowling, seeking to destroy us at every turn. He knows we are weak and sin is easy to get tangled in.
Justice is necessary. I work for an attorney and I understand that. But I also know that the cases that end the best are the ones that end with grace and understanding. And I know that the only way that is achieved is by taking off the judges robe, stepping out of the jury box and sitting side by side with the person that committed the crime...the person that sinned.
Romans 3:23-24 states, "...all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
ALL have sinned, yet ALL are justified freely by grace.
It's easy to blame. It's difficult to extend grace. In this difficult and painful world, are you willing to extend grace? I understand that some sins are easier to forgive. Yeah, I'm not beating myself up over a 5¢ eraser anymore. And when I tell the story it usually elicits ahh's and laughter, not condemnation. But, guess what? I am a thief. I do NOT deserve pardon. But, I am extended grace by God who gives it freely if asked.
There are often consequences for our actions, though. Lori will face the court's consequences, but does she deserve to face ours, too? I don't believe so. Now more than ever, she needs compassion. And she needs to talk it over with God. I am not privy to what her beliefs are and if she has a relationship with Him. And, guess what, that is not my job to know! It is my job as not only a Christian, but as a human, to see the good in others and offer them grace.
No, we cannot look the other way when crimes are committed. The world would be even more out of control than it is now. But prayers for those that commit the crimes aren't just right, they are necessary. Who needs it more than someone so at the end of their rope that felt a crime was the only way they could see their problem getting fixed? And we need to remember that behind every person that commits a crime is a group of family and friends that know the true character of the person being accused now. One bad action or even a series of them does not always ring true to the character of the person. I stole an eraser as a child, but it does not define who I am today. What defines me is that I'm saved by grace.
It's easy to see Lori as a a rich celebrity and her two daughters as spoiled kids. She is and they seem to be. But God sees her as His daughter who made a serious mistake. He isn't throwing stones. If she will call out to Him, He'll even forgive her. And He will lovingly, like the perfect Father that He is, walk beside her as she faces the consequences of her actions.
But if WE are condemning her, mocking her, spreading memes about her, WE are also in need of forgiveness.
Let's be Christians and put our prayers and grace where our mouths are. Sheesh, let's just be KIND, COMPASSIONATE, GRACIOUS humans.
My parents sacrificed dearly to put me through private schools my entire schooling career. They stood in line for government cheese when necessary. We shopped at Good Will. In NYC, they walked just about everywhere they could so they wouldn't use extra money on transportation.
And I loved them for it. But, one day, the cute little eraser in the corner store caught my eye. It cost 5¢. I knew better. It wasn't a necessity. But the mean girls at school had tons of new ones and I didn't have any.
So I swiped it.
I'm a thief.
My prize wasn't mine for long, though. Those mean girls at school - Brina and Patty - swiped it right back from me. I was showing it to my best friend, Vanessa, and they saw me. They came over to and started making fun of me and asking how I got it. I lied (sheesh, I'm a liar, too!) and said my parents got it for me. Mean 'ole Brina told me she knew they couldn't afford it! I told her it was true. And you know what she did? She threatened me. She told me that if I didn't give it to her that she would tell my dad.
I lost the eraser that day. And it ended my career as a thief. It was too costly. I not only had a guilty consciousness, I lost the prized possession and I was embarrassed. I never even told my parents until I was probably in my 30's!
Why am I admitting my life of crime some 37 years later? It's not nagging guilt.
I tell you now because I need to confess. I need grace as much as the next person.
You see, God gives grace in abundance. But, we, the humans that need it most, seem to have less of it to give. We become the judge and jury all in one. We condemn with or without the facts. And we don't care really what the person has done. We just know it was wrong and they need to pay for it.
What brings this to mind this week? Lori Loughlin. She messed up. She got caught. And now she is facing not only the legal system, but the loss of her career. And that makes me angry.
Anymore, the court of public opinion far outweighs the actual legal process. It is now demanded that no matter what a person has done, that their career needs to be handed in, as well. Now, for some jobs such as teaching and someone that has committed a crime against children, wisdom says that the person needs to be removed.
What upsets me the most is that there is no grace extended anymore. Remember the woman at the well? What about the woman who committed adultery and Jesus told her accusers that anyone without sin got to throw the first stone? What about Saul turned Paul who killed Christians before becoming one? What about Peter who betrayed Jesus? The list goes on and on and on.
But God extends grace. He knows being a human is hard work. He knows Satan is prowling, seeking to destroy us at every turn. He knows we are weak and sin is easy to get tangled in.
Justice is necessary. I work for an attorney and I understand that. But I also know that the cases that end the best are the ones that end with grace and understanding. And I know that the only way that is achieved is by taking off the judges robe, stepping out of the jury box and sitting side by side with the person that committed the crime...the person that sinned.
Romans 3:23-24 states, "...all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
ALL have sinned, yet ALL are justified freely by grace.
It's easy to blame. It's difficult to extend grace. In this difficult and painful world, are you willing to extend grace? I understand that some sins are easier to forgive. Yeah, I'm not beating myself up over a 5¢ eraser anymore. And when I tell the story it usually elicits ahh's and laughter, not condemnation. But, guess what? I am a thief. I do NOT deserve pardon. But, I am extended grace by God who gives it freely if asked.
There are often consequences for our actions, though. Lori will face the court's consequences, but does she deserve to face ours, too? I don't believe so. Now more than ever, she needs compassion. And she needs to talk it over with God. I am not privy to what her beliefs are and if she has a relationship with Him. And, guess what, that is not my job to know! It is my job as not only a Christian, but as a human, to see the good in others and offer them grace.
No, we cannot look the other way when crimes are committed. The world would be even more out of control than it is now. But prayers for those that commit the crimes aren't just right, they are necessary. Who needs it more than someone so at the end of their rope that felt a crime was the only way they could see their problem getting fixed? And we need to remember that behind every person that commits a crime is a group of family and friends that know the true character of the person being accused now. One bad action or even a series of them does not always ring true to the character of the person. I stole an eraser as a child, but it does not define who I am today. What defines me is that I'm saved by grace.
It's easy to see Lori as a a rich celebrity and her two daughters as spoiled kids. She is and they seem to be. But God sees her as His daughter who made a serious mistake. He isn't throwing stones. If she will call out to Him, He'll even forgive her. And He will lovingly, like the perfect Father that He is, walk beside her as she faces the consequences of her actions.
But if WE are condemning her, mocking her, spreading memes about her, WE are also in need of forgiveness.
Let's be Christians and put our prayers and grace where our mouths are. Sheesh, let's just be KIND, COMPASSIONATE, GRACIOUS humans.
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