ALOOKBACK
Giving Grace
What? Grace? For myself? What did that even look like? I was so paralyzed by my own self-imposed expectations that I couldn’t see that the really By Louise Tucker Jones important things, like taking care of my son and keeping my home in order were getting done. But all the responsibility Sometimes life brings challenges. that comes with being a widow and a Circumstances beyond our control single mom had crashed down on me, or even misguided expectations for especially on this 10th anniversary of my ourselves. husband’s journey to heaven. I recently found myself in that position I was exhausted, and my overloaded with an extensive “to do” list. After schedule left me feeling hopeless and agonizing over my situation, I had a long unfulfilled. That’s not how I wanted phone conversation with Claudine, my life to go. My son, Jay, deserved more. sweet cousin-by-marriage, and I’m so He was dealing with an eye infection, glad to have her in my family. physical therapy for his knees, as well as While lamenting my woes, I listed a loneliness, and all he wanted was a trip multitude of things I needed to do, was to see his brother and grandmother. expected to do, in fact, had to do—NOW. I Yes, we definitely needed a little grace. didn’t have to tell her I was overwhelmed. I was putting way too much pressure on It was obvious! Claudine listened patiently myself to accomplish every single task. then totally surprised me with her So what if the trees don’t get trimmed response. and the garage looks like a storage “Lou, why don’t you give yourself a little area? What if the house isn’t spotless grace?” and closets are cluttered? What if the
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Jay and his Grandmother
book I’m writing never gets finished or published? Life goes on and God is still on His throne. Thankfully, Jay and I were finally able to visit my 104-year-old mother, just two hours away, and we are planning a trip to Arkansas to see my eldest. This past pandemic year has been difficult for everyone. Perhaps we could all use my cousin’s advice. “Give Yourself A Little Grace!” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Louise Tucker Jones is an award-winning author, inspirational speaker & founder of Wives With Heavenly Husbands, a support group for widows. LouiseTJ@cox.net or LouiseTuckerJones.com.
