The Kissed Hand

Romans 5:1-2 — Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access through faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. (NIV)

I was invited to join a family for a birthday supper. When we were all seated, a little toddler in his highchair stretched out his chubby arm to the centre of the table and stuck his fingers into the frothy icing of a layer cake.

His mother gave the wrist a quick little slap, and wiped the fingers clean.

The child whimpered a moment, then slowly extended his slapped hand to his mother's mouth to be kissed.

When she tenderly kissed it, her husband said to her, "Now you're back where you started from." He apparently thought that his wife's kiss implied approval of sticking fingers into icing.

Was she not simply living out the very essence of God's grace? While God punishes and corrects, He also readily meets the repentant one who humbly entreats.

The child in his highchair, though so young, had obviously learned that although he was punished, he would be met with love and forgiveness when he reached out to the source of them.

People who know that they are loved and forgiven are most likely to want to please. The little lad did not repeat his act.

I hope his father noticed that.

Let us ponder these words from the Bible:

Romans 5:6 – You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. (NIV)

Romans 6:14 – For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. (NIV)

Prayer: Lord, help us to comprehend Your everlasting grace and be poised to pass it on in deed and word. Amen.

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