Grace Threshold

This past Sunday, I took my two little girls to the bagel shop. I sat my girls down at a table, ordered our food, then walked over to the drink station to fill up some water cups.  An elderly man was standing there with his granddaughter, who had her own water cup in hand.  She stared at the water machine, but didn’t act.

“Here — gimme your cup”, said the grandfather gruffly.

“No — I wanna do it”, she hastily replied.

“Well, you’re taking too long.” he mumbled back.

The grandfather looked up at me waiting behind them.

“Go ahead,” he said politely.

I quickly filled up my cup and turned to walk away.

The man leaned over slightly to his granddaughter, “See? He’s already done.  Just hurry up and get your water!” 

Sitting back down at our table, I stared at my two little girls and thought, “Man, what a jerk. Ease up, pops. That’s your granddaughter. Be patient. Give her a break.”  

And then, of course, I soon became the guy I was so quick to judge.  Within the hour, while buckling my kids into the car, I found myself barking at one of them for spilling their milk, and scolding the other for singing too loudly.

I half-expected a rooster to crow three times or something equally condemning.

I think I’ve got a “grace-threshold” problem.  It’s so easy to excuse myself for all my many shortcomings, but when I see the same problems in others, I find myself quickly donning my “holier-than-thou” robes.

“But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

- Ps 86:15

Lord, may we be more like you today. Slow to judge, quick to forgive, abounding in grace.