Grace in the Outfield

Last night this boy had to learn a tough lesson.

We were at the ballpark watching Griffin’s game on the Major League Field, while Grant was watching some friends play their game on the Peewee Field. Toward the end of the game, Grant comes over to me and says, “I was throwing a rock at the dumpster, and it bounced and just baaaaarely hit a car by accident!” I was questioning him and told him we needed to go look, and if there was damage we needed to tell the owners.

The fear started to rise in him.

“What’s going to happen to me? Are they going to call the police? What will they do?”

And I let him feel alllll of those feelings because you better believe I was not happy.

He took me to the car and there was the rock laying right next to the driver’s side door, and a small dent and paint scratch. I told Grant how expensive it is if this person chooses to have this fixed, and told him we needed to wait to find out whose car it was. We stood there as the game finished for what seemed like an eternity to Grant, and we were able to track down the owner of the car.

We told him what happened and showed him the damage.

After rubbing it with his fingers for a minute he looked up and said, “You know what, I’m parked inside the ballpark and I should’ve never parked in this spot. They’re just kids and accidents happen. Don’t worry about it.” Of course I asked him if he was sure? I turned to Grant and asked him if he heard him, and Grant said, “Yes, thank you,” with his head hung.

We got in the car and drove away, and looking in the rear view mirror I asked Grant, “Do you understand what that man just did?”

He looked up at me and said, “He paid for it.”

There couldn’t have been a more perfect answer. Because of this man’s kindness, I was able to explain to Grant what grace really is.

He forgave you when you didn’t deserve it.

He took the blame.

He took your punishment away even though you did wrong.

If he fixes the car, he will pay for what you did.

And then I was able to explain what Jesus did for us on the cross in a new and fresh way, maybe in a way that my 7-year-old won’t soon forget.

Today my guess is Grant will wake up thankful for a new day, and especially thankful for grace.

And to the man who drove away from the ballpark in a car with an extra scratch or two, your kindness left an eternal impact and I pray the Lord returns grace to you in the same way you extended it toward my son.

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“You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for He forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14

This post appeared on Creating Space – Lindsey Howard 

 

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