Grace.

Monday, hubby and I came home from a weekend trip. I was angry and irritated at every little thing… EVERYTHING. I couldn’t figure out why… I’m always so laid back and easy going but Monday, very bipolar (which I have). Things just got worse and worse and eventually we made it home… I was irritated at my girls for wasting so much time “in town” and not being here when we got home because we needed the car. They were supposed to pick up groceries, and come home. Did they? NO… they were living their best lives.

I have a habit of walking in the door and immediately start unpacking. So I’m taking everything to its respective room and walk into my room… and the load of clean towels was all over my floor. I washed them right before we left thinking one of two things would happen: 1) no one uses the washer and I will fold them when I got home, or 2) they will fold them and put them away as they were using the washer. I WAS LIVID! It was the last straw… I cussed, I yelled, I was in a full blown RAGE. I knew that this was very out of character for me. I haven’t yelled at my kids in YEARS and I never cuss.

I was so angry, I told my kids not to talk to me when they got home.. no hugs, don’t touch me. This set off a chain reaction of everyone getting upset and angry. I was praying for a softened heart. I wanted to be nice in this instance but it just wasn’t happening. As the night went on, things just got worse and worse and eventually, I just started laughing at how bad of a day it was. It was terrible. I’ve not had such a bad day in maybe 12 years.

I apologized to the girls, with hugs and kisses and asked for forgiveness. They were full of grace and while they expressed themselves, they also were quick to forgive. I can’t help but feel grateful for a few things. 1) that apparently I’ve raised them right, to be slow to anger and quick to forgive. 2) that I have medication that evens out my bipolar and I no longer act like this on a regular basis. 3) that I worship a God who gives such grace to us in our every day walk of life. He is so good to us! I’m grateful for His new mercies each day, that He is slow to anger and quick to forgive, and that He is in control of everything! Knowing THIS God gives me so much peace.