Grace in the Doughy Parts

2 Corinthians 12:9 The Message

“It’s done enough. Eat around the doughy parts.”

These were the instructions I gave as I served dinner the other night.

Yes, it was a proud moment.

The dinner a child could make, I served with doughy insides. I won’t say what it was, because frankly, it’s too embarrassing. But, as usual, I wasn’t completely focused on making dinner.

I was trying to get a file sent to me from the office. It was my own fault that I didn’t have it, and the stress was tying a rugged knot in my stomach. So, between phone calls, e-mails, and files flying through internet space, I got dinner prepared and in the oven.

Success.

Or so I thought.

When the timer went off, I pulled out the pan, turned off the oven, and told everyone dinner was ready. And then I realized it was not done. I don’t mean another-minute-or-so not done. I mean raw dough.

So, I put it back in the oven, and we stood around waiting. I thought about Carol Brady—this never happened to her. (But wait, she had Alice…and six kids. I have one kid and no Alice. So, call it a draw.)

If you are not familiar with the Brady Bunch, which I can’t even image, find it in reruns. Really, you need to. Oh, and I’m not dating myself. It was reruns when I watched it as a kid.

But, I digress…

I checked again. There were still some doughy insides, but I was tired of waiting.

So, I announced, “It’s done enough. Eat around the doughy parts.”

I should probably wonder why this information didn’t surprise my family, but I’m not going there.

We prayed over our delicious home-cooked dinner, prepared with love. (If you didn’t read that with sarcasm, read it again.)

I picked at the edible parts, while my mind kept repeating my failures…done-enough-dinners, forgotten files, and lack of Carol Brady perfection.

And then, my daughter said, “I like the doughy parts.”

Sigh. I could already hear future conversation starters…Hey, mom, remember when you served raw dough for dinner?”

And that’s when I remembered grace.

The grace my family was extending by not complaining and eating as if this wasn’t a big doughy deal. Grace in my daughter’s statement. And the grace I needed to give myself.

The grace that God gives me on a daily basis.

2 Corinthians 12:9 The Message

Perhaps this whole incident helps me understand what God said to St. Paul...

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9)

My family loves me even when I serve doughy dinners, and God loves me even when I’m not Carol Brady perfect.

I imagined what this scene would’ve looked like in the Brady Bunch.

“I like the doughy parts!” a child would exclaim, while the family laughed and laughed. The closing music would play and the credits would roll. It would be the perfect ending to their chaotic 25-minute television time slot.

That’s what I’ll do next time. I’ll laugh like it’s the cutest thing she ever said, while family theme music plays in the background.

On second thought, there’s no need to make this again. And who has time to find family theme music anyway?

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up with The Weekend Brew, Sharing His Beauty, Soli Deo Gloria, #TellHisStory, Hear It on Sunday, Use It on Monday, Winsome Wednesday, and WholeHearted Wednesday.