What Allergies Have to Do with God

I took my first allergy pill of the season. I had been in denial for several days. My eyes were red and itchy, I was sneezy, and congested....but I hate taking drugs of any kind so I held off. However Sunday morning as we drove to church, and I was noticing the gorgeous redbud trees in bloom, I also noticed that even my tongue was itching. I could not deny it any more. My body could no longer fight the thick cloud of pollen alone. I needed help. I downed an allegra.

The sermon was called "the characteristics of a Godly family." It's main theme was not to exasperate your children, and to raise them in the training towards God. I have been very faithful in daily Bible studies with my kids for twenty some years now. However, I had to admit as I listened to the list of what are evidence of having exasperated children that I am the queen of exasperation. I mean well (most of the time), but my implementation leaves much to be desired. I had tried a very long time to find the secret to not exasperating...but seemed to be unsuccessful. I could no longer fight this struggle on my own.

And then my sister sent me her church's sermon on Grace. I was walking and had my phone headphone on, so decided to listen to it. It was a beautiful study of God's bountiful grace offered to people who don't deserve it, often trample on it, and don't return it. Yet, God offers it anyway....over and over and over again. I have been the recipient of Grace many times when I clearly deserved a smackdown. It is time I practice extending grace more quickly, more abundantly, and with more fullness of heart.

Tough medicine those sermons...but goodness, how blessed I felt to know that in our sickness of soul, God always brings just the right remedy at just the right time. And as I finished my walk, I noticed how beautiful the redbud looked against the Carolina blue sky, and how the allergy pills had completely ended the itchy, sneezy, red-eyed reactions. I could enjoy the loveliness with a clear head and a humbled heart.

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Romans 6:14 

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Romans 11:6 

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

James 4:6

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Ephesians 2:8 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

1 Corinthians 15:10 

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Romans 5:8 

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Hebrews 4:16 

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

John 1:16 

And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.