Read: 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

"I need you to move a little faster, Lincoln. What’s taking you so long? This morning could not be going any worse, and you’re not helping things at all.”

Lincoln blinked back tears as his mom snapped at him for being too slow heading out to the van. One of his shoes had been hard to get on, so he was dragging his foot a bit, waiting until he was seated to fix it.

“I can’t believe I overslept,” Mom muttered to herself as they got into the van. “Today of all days, when I have a meeting with my boss…”

Lincoln got settled in the van and worked on adjusting his shoe. He had it fixed by the time his mom dropped him off at his grandma’s house.

A few hours later, Mom returned to pick him up. “I’m sorry I was a little grumpy this morning, Lincoln.” She held up a cup of an iced brown liquid. “I needed my morning coffee. I really can’t go without that.”

Lincoln sighed. “You needed it, Mom?”

“Yes. You know me and coffee; I can’t function without it.”

Lincoln followed his mom out to the van. “I thought the only thing we were supposed to need was Jesus.”

“Hmm.” Mom settled into the driver’s seat. “Well, technically, He is all we need,” she said. “But we have some earthly needs too.”

Lincoln frowned. “Like coffee?”

Mom backed out of the driveway and started through town. She was quiet for a few minutes before she glanced back at Lincoln. “Okay, that’s not a good excuse,” she said. “I’m not a baby, crying because I need my milk at the start of the day. More importantly, Jesus gives me the power to love others the way He does. I should be able to be a loving and kind person without coffee. I’m sorry.”

“I forgive you,” Lincoln said. “And I’m sorry you overslept this morning.”

“Everything worked out in the end,” Mom said. “Right now I just need God’s grace, huh? I need Him to forgive me for letting my bad morning and lack of coffee affect my attitude and lead to a case of the grumpies taking over.”

–Emily Acker

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