Grace in Uncharted Territory

As we are all in uncharted territory, I want to encourage you to show GRACE during this time.

 

Teachers are teaching in a way they are unaccustomed too.

Children are learning in a way they are unaccustomed too.

Many school kids are missing out on their “firsts” and “lasts.”

Athletes are struggling knowing this was their chance and may never get another.

Healthcare workers are taking care of us while worrying about bringing home something to their families.

Grandparents just want to have sleepovers.

Service workers and retail clerks are following rules that so many people don’t like or think are inconvenient.

Families are grieving in a way that’s hard to find closure.

Pastors and worship leaders have become televangelists.

 

So, please show GRACE.

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You see……

Teachers want to see their students in the classroom. They want to have those “A Ha” moments.  They want to hug those kids that need hugging most.

 

Kids want to be with their friends. They want to play on the playground, talk at the lunch table, and high five their teachers in the hallway.

 

Our high school seniors are missing out on traditions, settling for social distancing ceremonies. Some will never see certain classmates again. Some will leave their hometowns soon for basic training to never return. Some will never step foot back on the baseball diamond. Some will never dance with their high school sweetheart at prom.

 

Healthcare workers, service workers, and retail clerks are working tiring hours serving their communities, making sure we have what we need.

 

Families want Sunday dinner together. They want of visit their elderly family members  in nursing homes. They want to hold their loved ones hand in the hospital.  They want to hold the new grand baby for the first time.  They want to hug at the funeral and be surrounded by their friends and extended family members.

 

Our pastors and worship leaders are learning new technology to bring God’s Word to our homes. They are learning the in’s and out’s of social media and live video feed.  They are longing to worship with their congregations face to face.

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Instead of showing GRACE, we become judgemental. We say…..

 

Just get over it.

It’s not that bad.

That’s their job.

This isn’t my job.

Just do this.

The other churches are doing…..why don’t you……

Come on! It can’t be that hard.

 

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Please, show GRACE. It is so easy to sit back and criticize.  It’s easy to see things the way we think they should be, but not the whole picture. Things may appear easy and simple to the outsider, but to those dealing with it first hand, well, they know what it’s really like.

 

This is a time for us to come together through prayer.  Pray for the teachers and students. Pray for the healthcare workers, service workers, and retail clerks.  Pray for the parents and grandparents, and grieving families.  Pray for the sick and lonely.  Pray for our government officials.  Pray for our pastors and worship leaders.

 

I firmly believe that when we meet God face to face, He is going to have us give an account of this time.  He will want to know what we did with this time.  Did you use it to share Him with others or did our words and actions cause others to turn from Him? Did our words build up and encourage, or did they tear down and cause distress? Did we pray about it more than we talked about it?

 

So, I ask you….what are you doing during this time of social distancing? Are you bringing God honor and glory in the things you say and do, or are you bringing shame to Him?