Messy Grace

Last Friday when I went into Aaron’s room to wake him up and get him going for the day, I knew that something was off.  Sure enough, Aaron’s bed was soaked.  He had a seizure the day before, but I hadn’t heard one that previous night, so maybe he just drank too much water before bed.  Thoughts of that continuing issue with the amount of water he drinks made me a little irritated.

So did the fact that because of so many other things going on…and now tons of laundry to do…I had to cancel lunch plans with a friend I hadn’t seen in forever.  This was our second time to cancel.  GRRRR!

But I’ve learned to look at the positives at times like that.  I have a washer and dryer, and they work.  I have the time and freedom to change my day around.  And now Aaron’s bedding would be totally clean and fresh.  Every single bit of it…from the mattress pad up!  Oh, and I am ALWAYS very thankful for a super heavy duty and trustworthy waterproof mattress pad!  Am I ever!

The rest of our day went as planned.  I picked Aaron up from his day group, we went to Wal-Mart, got subs for supper, watched a qualifying run of NHRA racing, and had a nice time with all of it.

Later, not long before I was going to get Aaron from his room so we could watch a Walton’s episode, I heard a thump.  I was sure it was from his room.  I heard him walking so I knew it wasn’t him.  Soon he was in the family room, looking at me with some hesitation on his face.

“Mom?” he asked in a measured tone.  “Can you come to my room?  I need to show you something.”

I was comfortable on the couch.  It was nearing 8:30. I was winding down physically and mentally.  I was in no mood to go to his room and probably look at something on his computer that he just HAD to show me.

“Aaron, I don’t want to go up to your room right now.  Let’s just watch The Waltons,” I countered.

“No, Mom!” he insisted, “I need you to come up to my room now!”

Then I remembered the thump.

“Aaron,” I began with more calm than I felt.  “Did you break something?”

“Yes!!” he answered.  “It was my lava lamp!”

Now, you must understand that this was not just any lava lamp.  This was a GLITTER lava lamp. 

I was such a good mom at that moment.

“OH AARON!!!  YOU DIDN’T!!!!” I not-so-calmly replied.

I did not want to walk up those stairs.

I did not want to walk in his room.

I did not want to see what I soon saw.

There, on the floor beside his bed and under his bed was thick blue oozing goo. 

And not just any goo.

It was thick blue oozing GLITTERY goo!!

Let me tell you, I groaned and I huffed and I puffed and I complained the whole entire time I was cleaning up that awful mess. 

Poor Aaron wanted to help but there wasn’t much he could do.  I knew that there wasn’t room for both me and Gary to be in there working so I didn’t even tell him what was going on.  I just continued to bluster and blow as I sopped up the thick mess with a couple of old beach towels.  I even told Aaron to just throw them away.  I didn’t want eternal glitter in my washing machine!!

My washing machine, which had been running a good part of the day already as I cleaned up Aaron’s OTHER big mess!!

Oh, how my mind was working!  Poor me!!  My life is all about overseeing and cleaning up one thing after another!  Boo-hoo-hoo!! 

But I looked up from where I was kneeling on the floor trying to shine a flashlight under the bed so I could see sparkly goopy glitter hiding out…and there was Aaron sitting cross legged on the bed, telling me over and over that he was sorry.

Wanting more than anything to DO anything to help me.

My heart kinda broke for him and I felt such empathy for him.

That’s grace…not the kind that I can create, but the kind that God puts in my heart for this special son who can surely push my buttons but pull my heart strings at the same time. 

Later, after all the clean up and after the Walton’s was watched…as we got Aaron’s bedtime routine completed…a storm rolled in.  If there is one thing that Aaron absolutely loves, it’s a storm.

“Mom!!  Do you think I should keep my blinds open?”

I told him yes and to enjoy the lightning.  I was going to bed, finally, and that is all I wanted to do. 

But that’s not all that Aaron wanted me to do.

“MOM!  Come look at the lightning!  It’s BRIGHT!!”

Soooo, I stifled my huge sigh and walked once more into the room that twice already that day held so much frustration for me.

I stood at Aaron’s windows for a minute and soon there it was…FLASH!!  Bright lightning, followed by Aaron exclaiming, “Did you see that, Mom??!!”

I sat on the end of Aaron’s bed and immediately he threw back his covers.  In another flash, he was right beside me, and there we sat watching the impressive light show, brought to us by God.

And I was ever so thankful for God’s grace in that moment.  Grace from Him to me and Aaron in the form of such bright beauty out that window.

Grace to have my tired mind and body refreshed as I sat there enjoying all the sights and sounds of a good Kansas thunderstorm.

Grace to forget the messy day and to focus on happy Aaron.

Messy grace.

God extends that kind of grace to me every single day.

How can I not also extend it to Aaron in the midst of dirty bedding and glittery lava lamp mess?

Thank you for Your grace in all my messy places, God. 

And thank You for giving me the grace to show Your grace to Aaron.

However, I do not believe I will be buying another glitter lava lamp. 😁😁

Author: Patty hesaidwhatks

I'm Patty and I write about our adult son who has Epilepsy and Autism, who still lives with my husband and me, and who is a package full of many surprises and joys and challenges and TALK! Lots of talking, which creates laughter and some other reactions as well. I also write about how God shows Himself to me in everyday life.

29 thoughts on “Messy Grace”

  1. You are my hero, dear friend. I can totally identify with this post, but I didn’t always come around so quickly. It’s a good thing that God loves us with unconditional love – no matter what – that forever love that extends grace upon grace. Thanks for reminding us of God’s unlimited grace. Blessings on you, my friend.

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      1. Would it be okay with you if I reposted this on my blog? Your message really resonates with a lot of people because we all are in relationships that often need that reality of messy grace.

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  4. Thank you Patty. I love your stories that reveal so much honesty and shades of gray about your emotions. And most of all I am thankful for God’s grace which surrounds us in difficult times.

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  5. I agree with beryl,you are my hero too! My rebound ability is a little.., okay a lot shorter these days! God bless you for being such a fabulous example for us to show mercy and grace. May God richly bless you! Have a great holiday weekend!

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      1. I had to chuckle! I can almost see Aston arguing, you paint such a great picture of him! LOL!
        We are doing pretty good. We are in the days before next chemo (Wednesday) and Danny is feeling good and his appetite is picking back up. This needs to happen for the hard days. Today I took advantage of how good he feels and had him do a big task for me, but I asked nicely and I helped. ☺️ All together we are doing pretty good! Signed, Hard Task Master. 😁

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      2. Dear Hard Task Master, I’m sure you were a very sweet asker and helper, and that Danny was very glad to do your bidding. 😍 I’m thankful he’s doing well. Praying for you both, Cecilia ♥️

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  6. You not only experienced God’s grace last Friday night; you made God smile. How do I know? Because he delights in honest people (Proverbs 12:22 GNT)! Your honesty blesses us, your readers, too. I don’t think you realize what a positive example you provide for us, as you fight your way to joy and contentment on any given day!

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  10. I thought I had left a comment on here but when I double checked just now I see I obviously didn’t.
    I so appreciate this post, love when we can let out guard down and be real, open, honest, and even vulnerable because EVERYONE has bumps in the road. I fully believe a lot of pride issues would fade out if people would just be willing to share their struggle.
    And wow when we let go of the struggle and celebrate together in God’s goodness, there’s nothing like it!
    Great example of mercy and grace Patty!!❤️

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    1. I agree, Alicia! And God tells us to encourage and help others in the way that we have been helped by Him. I think we all worry that we don’t want to come across as boastful in our victories or as failures in our struggles. Yet we’re all pretty much the same as we walk through this sometimes difficult life. Thanks for reading and commenting!

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  11. I felt all your heartache, tiredness and frustration reading your words. So many people could learn so much from you. Looking at the positive things in that situation is amazing and something we all should do. I may not see the positive points when these things happen to me but with age I have learned not to get upset over the things I can not change. My grandkids can’t figure out why I don’t get mad when they break or ruin something. I just tell them it wouldn’t change the situation so why be mad. Thank you for reminding me God is in control but it is how we react that matters.

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    1. I was plenty frustrated at first but seeing Aaron’s remorse softened my heart. As parents and grandparents, every hard situation brings with it another test of our patience, doesn’t it? I had to smile yesterday as I vacuumed and steam mopped his room because there on the floor was MORE glitter!! 🙂

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