Go Grace

Grace began at the beginning. Start with grace, create with grace, maintain with grace. Jesus didn’t find grace in a lamp in the sand. Grace began with a mother with a questionable pregnancy, determined to raise her baby according to her traditions, and an honourable man, determined to be a loving husband and stepfather; parents trusting in a most surprising God.

With their eight-day-old and circumcised Jesus, Mary and Joseph went home and fed him and he grew. They gave him chores and he became strong. They taught him scripture and he filled with wisdom. They loved him, and the grace of God, which Mary knew deep in her womb months before, was upon Jesus as he grew in years.

My sons are 14 now. Soon, if they haven’t already, they, like Jesus, will ask questions of authorities in this world. They will push for a deeper understanding of God’s grace. May they never stop asking and never stop seeking a deeper understanding of God. That is a father’s hope, to hold these early years of asking in their hearts and to hold the promise of grace everlasting in their souls. And then? Who can say? But like Jesus, they will never be alone.

God, thank you for your grace upon our children from birth to high school and beyond. Amen. — BL