February #jammed: Dunked in Grace 

Day 57: It’s an inside joke.

“Jesus proceeded to Galilee where His countrymen received Him with familiar smiles. ” John 4:45 (VOICE)

It started with “schnitzel…” the family laughter of my little girls accidentally blurting out explicatives while attempting to communicate. Once they saw how funny it was, they said it over and over and over.

“Schnitzel! Schnitzel! Schnitzel!”

Gut breaking laughter roared from the kitchen table as they left out key consonant sounds.  Now that my family lives miles a part, it’s a joy and gift to share that kind of old-school camaraderie with them whenever we can grab it. There’s something about family that breaks our guard down, even though it’s on high alert.

“Pick up your sheet.” I don’t know who said it first, but it became the mantra of our last visit.

“Where’s your sheet?”

“Who’s sheet is that?”

Everything became word-smithed with “sheet.”

My girls, unaware of the play on an inappropriate word …they joined right in.

Family is family, and I love them no matter how crazy they are because I’m a little crazy, too! God places us perfectly, but only He can love those people perfectly. The rest of us have to put our best heart forward to love them for who they are and where they are this very minute …because that’s what our Father executes perfectly everyday.

When Jesus went home, his home-town welcomed Him for what He could do for them, not for who He was. Even when others don’t see us, He does. Our family isn’t responsible for making us feel “home,” because our home isn’t earthly …it’s with Him in heaven.

“They were not welcoming the Messiah who could bring forgiveness of sins, but only a miracle worker who could meet all their physical needs and expectations. ” NIV Notes on John 4:45

I wonder if Jesus was a little sad that they didn’t recognize Him for who He was. After all, He came to die for them …to save them. Imagine Him sitting down with His old friends and brothers laughing about silly plays on words and childhood memories. Knowing what they did not, He simply and humbly loved them anyway.

Father, Praise You for Jesus! Thank You the example He walked out on earth. We confess that we don’t always look at Jesus as someone who experienced the very feelings we do today. Bless us, through Your Word and by Your Spirit, to get to know our Savior more each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Feel like sharing a funny family joke? Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Inside-joking,

Megs

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