Sometimes I become too wrapped up in my own wants (which I mislabel as needs) to feel wrapped in grace. I’m so busy parenting my two young children that I don’t take time to be parented by God. Some days I feel these imperfections acutely. My sinful mind focuses on them, clinging to my mistakes and sins. And I’m tempted to remain turned inward on myself, concentrating on what I am . . . and am not.
Martin Luther says we need to remember our baptism each day. Embrace this blessing daily. Let yourself love and be loved. And he is right. When we’re focused on this amazing blessing of forgiveness and adoption by God in our baptism, we cannot help but live out joyful, thankful lives that bless others.
This message is adapted from “Faith reflections: Marked to be a blessing” by Amy Waelchi in the September 2007 issue of Café magazine.