Walking in God's Grace

                   * 2023 Mother’s Day 

Youngeun Joyce Kang

Lord, thank you for letting us walk in Your Grace through Christ.[i]

While we were still weak, still sinners, and still enemies…

But God made us alive, but God saved us, but God gave us life…

It is not about us, it is not from us, but it is from only God’s sovereignty.

We deserve to get wrath, eternal separation from God, and justice against our sin, but we are forgiven by you who is rich in Mercy.

We do not deserve to be called Your children, to be raised with him, and to be seated with him in heaven, but we are alive by You who are rich in Grace.

It is not about us, it is not from us, and it is from the gift of God, out of his great Love.

You are pouring Yourself into all of creation, and we can find Christ in everyone, and everything. [ii]

 

Lord, thank you for letting me walk in Your Grace through all Mothers’ in my life.  

Who established Mother’s Day as a national event for honoring all women’s work for peace.[iii]

Who showed God’s unfailing love and unconditional love to establish my identity “I am beloved one”[iv]

Who has been walking all my journey by listening, encouraging, and counseling[v]

Who has been walking all my journey of marriage by giving me peace, comfort, and security[vi]

Who has been walking all my faith journey by embracing, cheering, and rejoicing[vii]

Who has been walking all my motherhood journey by tearing, sharing, and learning[viii]

Who has been walking all my Calling journey by praying, supporting, and mentoring[ix]  

 

Lord, thank you for letting me walk in Your Grace through my children describing me like …

A Tree which is bearing many fruits, but sometimes they feel heavy with five huge ones.

Vegetable which is healthy, but sometimes they do not want to have them.

A Car that is fun to ride, but sometimes it is too scary to be on with a lead foot.

A Lion protects them from an enemy, but sometimes it roars at them

A Farm that is fun to play on, but sometimes it is not fun to work hard

Nature gives them peace and healing, but sometimes they wonder about the magnificent scale  

A Shade that provides shelter from the blazing Sun, but someday they need to leave to get Sunshine

Sunset shines the light on all of them beautifully, but someday they need to say bye for the eternal rest

Lord, thank you for letting me walk in Your Grace through my Motherhood

It is Grace I can think about Your love

It is Grace I can give back Your Love to Your Children

It is Grace I can be forgiven and forgive always

It is Grace I can grow in Christian perfection

It is Grace I can ask Your help all the time

It is Grace I can be closer to You more and more

It is Grace I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength

It is Grace I can be called a Mother, the most precious reminder of Your Grace[x]   

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

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[i] Ephesians 2:1-10

[ii] Richard Rhor “Incarnation is the oldest Christian Story. Through Christ, God is pouring God’s self into all of creation. To be a Christian, then, is to see Christ in everyone and everything.”

[iii] Ann Reeves Jarvis and her daughter, Anna from United Methodist Church in the 1860s  

[iv] My Grandmothers

[v] My Mother

[vi] My Mother-In-Law

[vii] My Mothers in Yeolinmoon church, Grace-Vision UMC, Houlton, Hodgdon, and Mars Hill UMC

[viii]My Friends

[ix] My support groups; Pastor’s wives, Colleagues, role models, and mentors.  

[x] Let us, therefore, approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.