“Grace from a Young Age by Andrew Westphal”

Sunday, June 21, 2015

I want to share with you something that I have never written before. The story is about me, when I was about 10 years old.

Attached to our enormous kitchen was an even more amazing little room we could dine in. But instead of dining back there, my mom chose to do her wonderful china restoration. It was there she would do her brilliant renovations of incredible artwork. Whether it was putting something back together or repainting, it was very cool to watch.

But to a 10 year old, that always seemed like an amazing desk for my artwork. However, early on my mom told me, “Andrew, don’t you get up there and start painting!” That was it. The law had been laid down. It was devastating to me. “But mom, I could make my own unbelievable project!” But instead she would simply say, “Take it to your room. These were too important.”

One evening came around and my parents had something to go to together. All I knew was I was on a mission this night. I’m going in! I made my way into the kitchen, walked to the back, and sat down at her restoration table. I took out a little paint, a little tool brush and a small white ceramic tile to create the world’s most incredible picture.

I cannot remember what I drew, or how long I stayed there. What I do remember is that I ended up bored out of my mind, and I left my belongings behind. Later that night my parents came home, and it didn’t take long for my mom’s voice to ring out. “Andrew!” I came into the kitchen and she said, “Did you paint?” “No,” I said. I looked upon the table and then I heard my dad ask the same thing, “Are you sure you didn’t do this?” Again I simply said, “No.” What broke me was what my dad said next, “Well if he didn’t do this, I’m calling the cops. Someone broke in and played with your paints.”

After I heard that I made my way back to my room. I was afraid of not only mom and dad, but the police too! I was sobbing on my pillow in bed, and I finally called out to my mom. She eventually walked in there and I told her the entire story. “It was me, mom. I’m so sorry. Please don’t call the cops.”

My mom held me and said she knew what I did from the beginning. But what I did is lying, and it is wrong. It’s not acceptable. She told me to consider what I had done even more. I asked her later that evening what more I would be punished with and she simply said, you’ve learned your lesson.

What an amazing story of grace demonstrated to me. One cannot earn grace. It is given to those who are humbled. For James 4:6 says, “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’”

I could have been rude to both my parents and received something far worse! I didn’t, and I am so thankful for that. That night taught me a whole lot.

Can you think of a day or a night like this in your life? 

Additional Resources
Grace from a Young Age- Bible Study Guide 
Eli's Advice to Samuel-Sermon by Curtis Pope 
I'm Happy Today - Hymn from Annual Singing with Tim Stevens

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A Youthful Perspective

I Have Seen God's Grace

By Emily Holt

The concept of Grace is hard to understand no matter what your age.  I am 15 years old and this is how I see Grace.

There are many people in my life that are very important to me.  Some of these people are my great grandparents and grandparents.  Each of them play an important role in helping me be a better person emotionally, physically and, most importantly, spiritually.  Each of my grandparents or great grandparents that are living now, have had an illness or medical situation where they could have died.  By the grace of God, I can live this life together with them for longer, despite their past illness or medical problems.

One of my favorite songs we sing at church is called “Lord I Lift Your Name on High”.  The chorus goes: “You came from heaven to earth to show us the way, from the earth to the cross. My debts are paid, from the grave to the sky.  Lord I lift your name on High.”

This song to me is a reminder of what a blessing Jesus is.  When I think of the word Grace, I automatically think of Jesus.  Jesus came to earth, he died, and he was raised to never die again.  Through Jesus’ sacrifice on that cruel cross, our sins have been paid for.  We did not do anything to deserve this.  God had every reason to NOT send Jesus to save us.  God did this for us because His love for us so strong (Romans 5:8). 

This is true grace that affects us the rest of our lives by giving our lives a purpose.  Titus 2:11 says “for the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people”.  The grace of God is something we can take for granted at times.  It is something we do not realize is happening in our life every single day.  If we look around, we can see God’s grace everywhere around us.  How have you seen God’s grace in your own life?

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