Kind to the Ungrateful

This morning as I was reading a chapter in the Gospel of Luke, I was overwhelmed meditating on how God loves the ungrateful and works in me to do the same: 

"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:35-36

In recent days, I've noticed my son doing much more whining and pouting than he ever has. Some say, "oh, it's just the terrible twos and he'll get over it." I say it's part an inadequacy to properly communicate his needs and wants, and partly an ungratefulness for what he already has. In response to the abundance of whining going on around this little apartment, it is far too easy to become impatient, harsh, and unkind. I find myself being sharp with my words and quick with my actions. Oftentimes, I feel like the whining has brought me to the end of my rope. And THEN, God opens my eyes, yet again, to the wonderous things in His law...

Unlike me and my tendency to get up-tight and short-tempered, God, my perfect Heavenly Father is kind to the ungrateful and evil. In all my silent complaints against God's providence and goodness, I am doing nothing less than being a big whiner and yet God in His perfect love and compassion, graciously reminds me that He is kind, gentle, patient, and forgiving of the whining that so grieves Him. He is good and only seeks good for those who love Him and here I am restless in the face of His sovereignty. 

As a momma, my life is characterized by giving without return and spending without instant reward. In my selfishness, I can get "overwhelmed" by how much I am exerting and how little I'm getting in return. However, this little gem of Scripture reminds me that I am called to give without receiving because my Father in Heaven has given the ultimate Gift without any price that I could ever pay! He has loved His enemies, done good to those who rebel against Him, and given expecting nothing in return by sending His Son to atone for my sins - ungratefulness being one of them. 

During the times that I am tempted to snap because I've said "no" more than I've blinked and have heard "nah nah nah" for the umpteenth time, I will seek to remember the gracious kindness of my Father toward a whiny, ungrateful, unkind, yet forgiven sinner like me.

May my words be gentle and kind and may I reflect the character of my perfect, kind, patient, and loving Father to my precious children every moment of their lives...