God gives us "Next Times"

My brain was saying, "he didn't do it on purpose" but my rising blood pressure was hard to control so I ignored my brain and went with my physiological response to anger. Enter the need for grace. Ethan had just climbed over the newly contructed joists for our porch, sandals full of mud, and entered the front door of our house to get a toy. I saw him just as he was entering the front door and I shouted, "take off your shoes" as the door was closing behind him. I had my doubts that he heard me so when he returned outside I asked him if he had taken his shoes off. "No" was the response. I proceeded to ask him if he got mud on the carpet and he answered "No." I figured I better check just in case. I climbed the same joists and peered in the doorway and to my horror was not one or two, but numerous muddy footprints on my carpet. My carpet is light enough to show mud and there was no denying the fresh stains. The anger arrived. "I don't have time for this, I don't want stains on the carpet, What was he thinking? Why didn't he just think? He shouldn't have climbed over the joists in the first place. Why didn't he take his shoes off?" These questions raced through my mind as I surveyed the damage. I couldn't contain my disappointment and when confronting Ethan, he appeared to care less that he made such a mess - which made it even more disheartening. I reacted in a irrational way in hindsight. He didn't intentionally put mud on the carpet. I just couldn't find the grace that I needed to give to him. In the back of my mind I was thinking of the hymn "Grace, Grace, God's Grace, Grace that is greater than ALL my SIN" Why couldn't I give him the same grace? This was such a trivial mistake, yet I couldn't get over the fact that he didn't appear remorseful and I told him to go to his room and wait for me to get him. My subconscious was telling me that I was not reacting properly, that God forgives me and show me grace daily yet I felt that I needed to prove "a point" and not think he can "get away with" this type of behaviour or lack of respect. It was just muddy shoes! I let this little thing get the best of me and I did not show Ethan the proper way to respond to someone who makes a mistake. Yelling is so fruitless and doesn' accomplish anything (except cause me to get a sore throat). I should have said, "Ethan, I am disappointed that you came into the house with muddy shoes and didn't take them off. There is a very large mess to clean up because of it and it may leave marks on the carpet but I forgive you. Can you please help me clean it up?" That would have been such a better witness of grace to my son, acknowledging that I was not pleased with what he did, but nonetheless I forgive him. I know that just because I am parent doesn't mean that I don't have a lot to learn. I need to remember God's grace to me and find a way to reflect that to my children.

Thank God for His grace, forgiveness and for the "next times." I can always try to do better "next time."