Extend Grace

hello there..

hi february.. (^^)

Just let me share some story of mine that really changed the inner of me...

This story is about me and my little family. It is not to embarresed anyone that close to my heart but rather than ehm..lets just say i am grateful..and amazed for what the Lord Jesus Christ had done for the past whole week.

U see, being a parent is not that easy. in this stage where my sons were in their 'glorious'moment who like to do many adventurous things that sometime...we as their parents can lost our patience towards our kids.

Plus..we have a special kids like Joshua which can really draw us to the limit of our patience...(gila what kind of bahasa i used here...hahahaha..whateverlah kan).

On top of that..my husband is a very garang person. He has a very very minimum patience...especially when it comes to discipline our sons. You know,,when a father start to yell..memang berterabur lah all my sons masing2 mencari saya.

And this is where i dont like my husband...because when he start yelling and smacking...me myself feel so scared too. Apa lagi my sons kan...i just couldnt stánd his voice...and because of that we end up quarreling (mau displin anak2 last2 bergaduh pula..sandi betul)

When it happened..i will directly said to my husband (dengan emosi marah)..that how come he can be like that...being a christian..he supposed to learn to be more patience...and here i became the judge..i critic his attitude and constantly remind him his bad behaviour..

Yes..before u said why not u pray for ur husband...honestly..i have been praying for my husband since before we married. I knew he has this bad temper and i always pray and hope that one day he will change. and it's been almost 5 yrs we get married..yet..he is still the same person...

i have to admit that i used to give up hoping a change in my husband. I know God but somehow i just losing hope for my husband.

Until i found the truth. One day i came across Daily Grace Inspirational from Pastor Joseph Prince. Yes I subscribe his daily devotion everyday. But along the way..i always end up not reading it. But it was God that bring me back to read his article one day.

The story is using Zacchaeus the chief tax collector. Those who is not familiar this story from the bible let me just share it with u here. Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector and rich. One day Jesus came to his place Jericho. Zacchaues was eager to meet Jesus...he wondered what kind of person Jesus is. Zaccaheus must heard how Jesus had healed many people. Those who blind can see again. Those who cannot walk can walk again. Those who been possessed by demon became a free and normal person. So Zacchaeus must be very curious at that time.

Let me put this way..if a famous person cameby to ur place u must be excited too kan..at this era..if we want to meet person who is hardly can be meet in person..there will always an instagram to click...hahaha. with just 1 click and u can stalk their private life. But not during zacchaues time. Ironically..zacchaeus is a very short person. Because of many people followed Jesus...he had to climb the tree to see Jesus. And there goes story..that Jesus stop and told Zacchaeus that He want to come to his house. Zacchaeus was so happy.

somethin to ponder..there was never mention in the bible that during their meeting Jesus and Zacchaeus that Jesus had pinpoint his lifestyle as a tax collector or being judgmental to him. Jesus just talked and Zacchaeus was just happy. What happened is the miracle. With just a meeting with Jesus...Zacchaus make a commitment...he said.."Behold Lord, the half of my goods i give back to the poor. and if i have defrauded anyone of anything, i restore it fourfold (Luke 19:8).

So here...if u see the situation...Jesus never accused or judged Zacchaeus. He just accept him as who he is. By extend His grace to Zacchaeus and salvation has come to him.

This story ..the truth of Grace that Jesus showed to Zacchaeus changed me.

U see..i know my husband weaknesses. Yes he is a very kurang sabar person. Sangat kurang. I had prayed for him. I forgive him everytime he do mistakes. But..one thing is even though i forgive him...my husband is just a normal human being. We human makes mistakes so am I. When he do mistakes..here i am..reminding him his weaknesses..seems holy i am..but it just make me like any other people...whenever people make mistakes sometime i pinpoint again his weaknesses.

But what Jesus did with Zaccaheus? Jesus knew what Zacchaeus did to the poor..but instead Jesus came and eat with him. Never mention his weaknesses. Never judge or accused zacchaues. He sat there and accept Zacchaeus. But miracle happened. Zachaues changed to be a better person.

So i stop and reflect myself. It is not praying for my husband to change but rather i prayed to God..that everytime my husband make mistakes or sakitkan hati (saya or anak2)..I will just extend God Grace to my husband by accepting his flaws and asking God to make me love my husband continously.

What happened...miracle happened. The moment i prayed and make my commitment..I can see progress in my husband. The past week..I hardly heard my husband yelling our sons like he used to do. I can see much more patience in himself. Though sometimes he did lost his patience but is really different. And I knew is all because God grace. I never said this to my husband but i knew is all because Jesus Christ. Just the way Zacchaeus meet Jesus.

My post today is quite long...but I guess this is the story for my lovely February. All of us has our own weaknesses. Instead of judging..or keep reminding the person his weaknesses and asking them to change..just pray to God...submit it to God...

We cannot change person but God can.

with that,,,thank you for reading. I pray God will do the same in ur marriage.
Be Blessed.