Chrysanthemum?

Happy Wednesday.

Grace had an assignment for first grade today that asked her to explain her name. The exercise is based on a children book called “Chrysanthemum”. The main character is named after the flower, but quickly she wants it changed after being made fun of on the first day of school. In the end, her teacher leads all the kids into understanding the beauty of such a special name. Chrysanthemum not only loves her name, but the other kids now want one like it.

So I was trying to explain to Grace that her name means unmerited favor.
Grace: “Huh?”
Adam: “Ok, so getting something you don’t deserve.”
Grace: “Huh? So my name is about getting things I don’t deserve?”

After bumbling through this conversation,
Adam: “Your mom and I wanted to always remember that you are a great gift to us, your name means gift.”
Grace: “But I don’t have pointy edges with a bow.”
(oh no, I’m losing her)
Then she hit me with something profound.
Grace: “But daddy that makes me sound like I am your only child.”

There it is. That’s the reality of God’s Grace. God loves you as if you were his only child. All his attention, all his love, all his forgiveness, all his possessions, they’re all yours. It is the Grace of God that sent his only son to give you and me the status of being his only son! That’s the idea that has changed the world, changed my life. That’s why I named my third child Grace. No doubt I have learned much more from the assignment than Grace, but she’ll grow into it one day.

2 Corinthians 8:9
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Grace and peace be yours today,
Adam