Much To Learn

I walked into a store with my daughters. A "girl store" as my son puts it. One full of pretty packages, glass trinkets containing magical fragrances and other bottles, ones full of colorful nail polishes.

I became distracted by something in particular. Something my middle girl was drawn to. A specific fragrance. I sniffed her wrist as she accepted the invitation of "tester."

It was the word that stood out to me most.

Not the scent. A word. One word:

Grace.

Amazing Grace, Eternal Grace, Pure Grace

The words kept waving to me on every corner. Pretty bottles with secret messages. I felt that I needed to be here. I felt that He wanted me here.

You see... I had a problem with grace.

This good girl would run off hiding because it's so different. It still feels wrong to see myself as He does. It still feels wrong to forgive what I thought was unforgivable. It still feels wrong to love certain people. It still feels wrong to be sincere.

I'm still learning that it's OK to show my scars

like the cracks in my wood table.

I'm still learning that I'm loved. I'm still learning how to love others. I'm still learning how to accept His grace.

Someone said this to me recently:

"I see that you don't have a religious view on your profile. (Facebook) Why is that? Christians: A follower in Christ. A believer in Christ "Jesus" would want non believers to know Him. To be a witness... Just asking."

I really had to ponder this. This idea that not putting a religion would offend. This word Christian was what she hoped I would add. I pondered it. What is my religion? How would I identify myself? I didn't know. I'm in process.

I do know this.. My goal is to Love God and Love People so that's what I put.

Love is my religion.

I still have much to learn about grace. I still have much to learn about love.

Linking up my messy words with Tuesdays Unwrapped and God Bumps.