My first job was for a CPA in a small office. He was having an affair with his secretary. I didn’t linger there.
My next job was for Intergraph, a computer software corporation. I lived in the world of Accounts Receivable. Everything must balance there.
I’m comfortable with balance. I like everything adding up properly. I still balance my checkbook to the penny each month.
Then I had kids. No more balance. No more “I do this for you; you do this for me.” It’s all give (for awhile anyway). How does that add up?
It doesn’t. It’s grace.
Where’s the line for grace on a Balance Sheet?
If you’re trying to live balanced, give it up. Even if you pull it off for awhile, you can’t keep it up. You know that. Just fall on God’s mercy instead. It’s much easier and it makes you happy and God happy, too. He wants you to depend on him, not on you.
Grace isn’t about balance. It’s about love. Love lives off balance.
It’s freely given to your credit.
Accept grace. It’s your greatest asset.
For by grace you have been saved through faith.
And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
* * *
I’m on a grace kick.
What has your profession taught you about faith?
15 comments:
I was just thinking this morning -- I was in kind of a funk and was trying to figure out what triggered it and thought through some little things others had done that bothered me. Then the thought flashed into mind, "Love keeps no record of wrongs." A former pastor once said that was an accounting term. That helped me remember to put those things away and not "stew" over them.
LOVE this post! I have a Maths degree--balance and having things add up are part of my make up. But life is not about balance without God to offer the balance. Your illustration speaks to me. Thank you.
love your post. thank you...Sometimes I ponder..., it's not JUST about not keeping a record of wrongs....and grace to let them go...in the intangibles of this journey, it's as much about not LOOKING for the wrongs...instead of, looking, then finding,...then deciding to let it go......--JUST DON'T LOOK, JULIE! Only look for the good....specially in the one that we know MOST needs it whether they deserve it or not....GRACE....Thanks Lisa. IT made me think. Grateful! hugs!! your posts are working hand in hand with Stephanie's. :-)
"Grace isn't about balance. It's about love. Love lives off balance."
I appreciate this post, so much, Lisa. Falling into grace...the best fall I'll ever have!
I’ve always loved math when things work out right (not so crazy about theorems and proofs in geometry); I like there to be a wrong answer and a right answer, and if you work the equation right, you’re assured a right answer. But life isn’t that way, huh? All the more reason we need God’s grace!
I agree. Grace is so illogical... especially for "left-brained" line-'em-all-up-folk like us! But when we "get it" oh, how we love it. A whole new world opens before our eyes.
The trick is to live in that grace-filled receptive place more of the time. And to give to others from the fullness that we have because of Him. Rather than giving to be filled up.
Thanks for joining us for Marriage Monday today, Lisa.
Blessings, e-Mom
Oh Lisa, I'm falling today. I'm trying to depend, but a little frightened over what tomorrow will bring for my baby girl.
Thank you for the post, I needed it. He used you - high five!
Well, you know this hits home with me right now taking my first accounting class! It's funny because just today I was stumped at work because Quickbooks kept rejecting a payroll check I was trying to enter, telling me "it doesn't balance". I got frustrated and called my CPA (Misty!) and she corrected my frustration with... "No... that's the beauty of it... it has to balance!" It's true in accounting for those of us who like our ducks in a row... the beauty is that, at the end of the day, the books must and will balance. However, you make a good point about God's love. :-) Good thoughts!
A unique write up, like it!
I too worked in accounting and always received a thrill when my accounts balanced! Then they promoted me to another department and I became a counselor or sorts trying to balance peoples lives.
I enjoyed your post very much!
Well said. My background is in science, so I always like everything to be logical, systematic, and balanced. In the lab we worked with "controls," but in life there's only One who has real control over anything.
On a semi-related note ... After I came to faith, I was struggling with creation vs. evolution. I prayed that God would show me the truth. One day my husband came home from work with a borrowed DVD that was an answer to my prayers. I don't want to get into issues that are divisive, but I think we can all rejoice in answered prayer.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I appreciate your comments. :)
Rie,
Praying for peace today for you and for your daughter and for whatever circumstances may come. May you hold tight to God’s promises and hope, and may He hold tight to you!
I care.
I think there are more of us left-brained women out here than we typically get credit for. :-)
Brenda,
It's exciting to hear talk of your new accounting world. Did I tell you Jenna is opening up to it a little now? I don't know why I never thought about it for her--it's quite a perfect fit with her intolerance of anything out of order. ha.
nice take Lisa! Grace is really a great gift from God. thanks for sharing :D
<a href="http://www.heartifying.com/2011/02/07/how-did-i-find-my-first-love/”>my Marriage Monday is here.</a>
enjoyed this.
Post a Comment