One of my job duties is to prep the newsletter for my boss every Friday, for Sunday distribution. The past Friday I dropped the ball. A family emergency came up, preoccupying my thoughts, and distracting my focus. I never even considered the newsletter until Sunday morning, when I saw the completed newsletter come into my inbox - prepared -but not by me.
I immediately emailed my boss, apologizing for the error and explaining what had happened. He immediately responded, "No worries, at all." And I have no doubt he meant it. After 7 months of working together, and me not missing a newsletter yet, he knows my work ethic. Yet, as I sat there (in church no less), I couldn't accept the grace he so freely gave me. Instead I sat there berating myself for my mistake.
The irony of the situation isn't lost on me. Jesus died to pay the price for my sins. In full. Yet, how often do I, instead of accepting His grace - and the peace that comes with it - instead continue to berate myself over my failures? As if Jesus wasn't enough.
This is a constant battle for me. Is it for you too? We try to do our best. We want to be known by our actions, not our "intentions." Yet, we aren't perfect, try as we might be.
Jesus paid the price for our failures, not that we shouldn't try to do our best, but that we accept His forgiveness (not to mention the forgiveness of others). There is freedom in His forgiveness and grace. There is peace.
I will continue to do my best for my boss. But, undoubtedly I will mess something up again in the future. I'm human. I'm thankful that I have a Savior who paid the price for my failures. (Not to mention a boss who doesn't expect me to be perfect.) Now, I need to accept that grace, and keep moving forward.
And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6
Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com
