Humbled by My Husband Today...

Today, I took the kids to the grocery store in hopes of giving my husband some quiet time at the house.  Before I left the house my husband gave me an endorsed check that he wanted me to cash on my way home. Sure, no problem, I put the check in my back pocket (a pet peeve of my husbands) and dashed out the door. The store was crowded and the kids were wound up... it was an adventure to say the least. While checking out at the grocery I reach in my back pocket and couldn't find the check!

I raced back to the car and searched all in it - not there - I combed through my wallet and my pockets again - not there. I finally called my husband and meekly asked him if I had left it at home - I had not. I went back in and looked  through the store and did not find it. No one had turned it in. I left the store in tears.

I felt horrible for several reasons - the first being the wasted money, of course. But, then also, I lost the check because I put it in my back pocket - something my husband has encouraged me not to do our entire marriage. I wondered if my husband would ever trust me with a check again (a bit dramatic, but that is a common theme in my life). I expected to come home and hear a gentle reminder of why we should have a system and put things in our wallets.

My husband came out to greet me when I pulled in and he saw that I was in tears. Tenderly he gave me a hug and a kiss and said, "Baby, it isn't a big deal." -- then I walked inside and he said, "Look, I washed the floors for you." (washing the floors is always on my to-do list and is my very least favorite chore). He not only forgave me, but blessed me!

In that moment I saw grace lived out. I didn't receive a correction or an "I told you so" -- even though I deserved one. I didn't come home to a man frustrated or disappointed - even though he had every right to be. There were no sharp words, no cutting tones, just love and grace. As he held me and let me cry on his shoulder - I thought about Christ and how Christ does this for me on a daily basis.

In Jason's beautiful demonstration of grace today - it challenged me to be more grace filled towards him and to my children. What a safe environment he created for me to say, "I messed up - I need a better system than my back pocket." He simply forgave and moved on all while verbalizing his love and commitment.  I want to create that for him each day. Where he can tell me when he makes a mistake knowing that it will be greeted with grace. I won't hold it over his head, bring it up later, make him feel worse about it, or anything, but simply offer him the grace Christ so willingly offer me on a daily (hourly!) basis!

Seeing grace demonstrated towards me in such a powerful way makes me realize how stingy with grace I have been. I'm humbled by my husband today and using that help me be a much more grace filled wife!