Laura and I chose the name Analise for our recently adopted 2-year-old primarily because of what that name means. Analise means “God’s grace is abundant” and we knew that God’s grace was part of the entire 18 month process that led her to be with us.

But, she has given me such a bigger and better view of God’s grace in the short time she has been in my life that I now know another reason why she was given this name!

I have written about grace several times in this blog because I am so aware do how much I am in need of His grace. Analise has given me another view altogether. Now that I am a father for the first time I have been given a glimpse of how God sees me.

I have always seen myself as the the child of grace, but now as a dad I am a giver of grace! When Analise is crying at 2:00 in the morning I give grace. When she is not quite ready to be fully attached to me–the first male figure in her life–I give her grace. When she doesn’t want to be near me for hours but then all of a sudden looks at me with her big, brown eyes and says, “Bapa!” I show her grace and swoop down to her and kiss her and tell her how much I love her! When she cries for 9 hours on the plane ride home I REALLY give her grace!!

The biggest thing I have learned is that I have a tiny bit of a better understanding of how God loves me because no matter what Analise does I don’t love her any less. I still love her and want the best for her–just like how God still loves me and wants the best for me as I screw up time and time again. He is patient with me and because of that I can be patient with her.

I think fatherhood has helped me see–just a tiny bit–of just how much God loves me.

What are your stories of how parenthood has shown you a better understanding of God’s grace? I would love to hear them!

More to come….
Jeremy