I picked up my five year old from preschool.  She walked out the door with an annoyed look, and continued down the hall. I hurried to match her rapid pace.

“What’s wrong?” I asked concerned.  “Didn’t you have a good day?”

She stopped moving to ensure every ounce of drama could be inserted into her next statement.

“EVERYONE brought a letter T item today, EXCEPT me, because SOMEONE forgot to remind me.”   The some and one were drawn out for effect.  Whoever could she be referring to?

I had, in fact, remembered, while sitting in the drop-off line. We quickly scoured the car, which my husband had irritatingly, just cleaned.  Not one lousy tissue or hardened tater tot to be found.

“Really!” I muttered. “Usually I can find an entire meal under these seats.”

“How about a tooth?” I said hopefully. “Any loose teeth I can yank out?”  The four year old was up for the challenge and began pulling his canines in earnest.

I grabbed my purse. The last resort.  One lint covered tic tac and my world’s greatest mom status was restored.

Nothing.

Tampon…….  I have to confess, I did consider it.  Where’s the line between desperation and dysfunction?

I was ready to throw in the towel, except I didn’t have one.

“Sorry, you’ll just have to go without a letter T item,” I said.

I had dismissed them from the car, one devastated, and the other still frantically wiggling his tooth.

Now we stood in the middle of the hallway, her hands on her hips, and my heart in my throat. I had been so busy with work, the bible study, and pursuing purpose.  I’d fallen a bit short in the mom department.

Then, as I allowed the guilt to swallow me whole, she smiled and leaned in.

“It’s ok. I still love you.”

Grace.  An undeserved kindness.  A gift freely given.

I fall short.  A lot.  Not just as a mom, but as a wife, a friend, a Christian. I screw up, constantly.  I am exasperated, frequently.  I curse like a sailor, well, too much.

I can be thoughtless. Selfish. A sinner.  And then comes that unearned, healing, gift of grace.

It alters your day when you receive it from a five year old.

It transforms your life when you receive it from a Savior.

I gave her a hug and she skipped down the hall.  “By the way,” she called in my direction.  “You also forgot to put a spoon in my lunch.”

I could only laugh. Thank God for abundant grace.