Grace Like Confetti

Can I just talk about feeling like a bad wife for a minute?

I went to an event out of town a few nights ago. The day before, I had hosted a party at my house. My servant of a husband helped me clean up and told me he’d finish up the kitchen while I was gone the next night. I also asked him to pick up drinks for a work party the next day. When I came home, there were no drinks to be found and the kitchen was the disaster I’d left it in.

I had a quick conversation with myself in which I said, “Self, don’t say a word. He does MORE than plenty for you on a regular basis.” But I did not listen to myself. Instead, I complained about the kitchen and the drinks and we got in a huge fight. He said, “Can’t you just give me some grace?”

Ouch.

But he was right. How can I throw around grace like confetti to so many people, including total strangers, but run out of it when it comes to the person who gives me the most grace?

I do the same thing to God that I did to my husband in the kitchen. God does so much for me that when He doesn’t do something I thought He would do, I question everything and throw a tantrum. What if I was just…I don’t know, thankful for all He has already done? He always has a bigger reason for what He is doing — or not doing — for me. I can either trust that process or pitch a fit. It seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes that very brain gets tangled up with my heart and makes it very hard to choose the process over the fit-pitching.

Sometimes we have to walk out of the kitchen and think about what we’ve done for Him.

After the fight with my husband, I realized I had been expecting so much out of him and not doing very much FOR him in return.

God doesn’t require us to do any type of works to get His grace, but He does want us to do things like spend time with Him, love His people, and spread the word about His goodness. But far too often we stand in the kitchen complaining over the dishes instead of looking at our own reflection and realizing we haven’t been the best at pouring out love. We’ve been a little too focused on what everyone can do for us instead of what we are doing to make everyone else feel loved and included. We’ve been a lot too focused on what God can do for us instead of what we are doing to make Him worshipped and known.

Lord, help us throw grace like confetti over our husbands (and ourselves).

Wife Step: Today, go to your husband and shower him with confetti grace by letting go of something that’s been bothering you. Verbally tell him, and then kiss him as if it’s full of confetti.

Why do you think it’s so hard for us to choose to show grace toward our husbands?

Kaitlin is a newlywed striving to be a strong half of a Kingdom team with her hunk of a husband. She is a lover of words, good coffee, and exploring new cities. Her favorite places include airports, hotel rooms, and bookstores and she has yet to meet a stranger she doesn’t like. Kaitlin is addicted to shopping, yoga, and brunch and couldn’t make it a single day without her dream-supporting family and best friends. She hopes everyone who meets her sees Jesus in her eyes and feels a little lighter when they leave her presence. You can say hi to Kaitlin on social media at @kchaprogers on Instagram and Twitter, @kaitlinchappellrogers on Facebook, or on her website at kaitlinchappell.com!