Grace to Behave
When we were growing up on the end of Bull Run Road, my sisters and I spent many a Saturday accompanying Mama to Tallulah, LA to buy groceries and supplies for the coming week, mostly against our will. We would’ve preferred running hog wild in the fields that surrounded our house or playing Chase Don’t Touch the Ground on the farm equipment under Papa’s shed. We considered splitting precious daylight hours between the A&P and TG&Y and then traveling home again to unload and put away the supplies to be a form of torture.
Our lack of enthusiasm probably contributed to Mama’s habit of making sure we didn’t leave home without hearing her favorite warning, “I expect you girls to behave today.”
I suppose it was a reasonable expectation, given the continuing education course Mama was putting us through on the many things little ladies did and did not do. We understood full well that we should behave, and what it meant to behave, but it wasn’t unusual for us to run out of resolve way before Mama ran out of errands.
That childhood memory makes me smile, but it also gives me cause to celebrate Father God’s marvelous provision for you and I in Christ Jesus. Color me exceedingly grateful that God doesn’t begin His work in us as believers by telling us to behave. The law did a stellar good job of proving that we don’t know how, which came as no surprise to God. In fact, according to the Apostle Paul, the law came for that very reason– to teach us how desperately needy we are and to prepare us for the saving work of Christ.
On this side of the cross, God asks us to believe and trust in Jesus so we can behave– through the power of His Holy Spirit, the Hope of Glory, living through us. And then he asks us to keep our eyes on Jesus and keep believing so that we can keep on behaving. Or, in the words of that same great Apostle, “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 6.14
Our blessed takeaway? Through His amazing grace, Father God has made it so that He can say, “I expect you to behave today,” and you and I are equipped to comply. Somebody needs to say Hallelujah!
Hugs, Shellie
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Shellie,
I would like to use the image of TG&Y on the cover of the “Crossroads of Commerce: A History of Free Enterprise in Oklahoma” but need to know how the credit line should read and if I have permission to reproduce the image.
Thank you for your consideration.
Kay R. Mitchell
I look forward to receiving anything that you write for it is uplifting and so sincere. Thank you for another issue of this favorite site of mine.
Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
You’re most welcome, friend. And THANK YOU for the ongoing and much appreciated support of my musings. 🙂
Georgetta
Shellie,
When we were living in Houston, Texas and raising our children, there was a TG&Y and a Piggly Wiggly down the street from us. Our kids always asked us what the TG&Y stood for. We told them that it stood for Turtles, Girdles and Yoyo’s. Lots of good memories of those days. They are now grown and we have two wonderful grandchildren (ages 16 & 11) to share memories with.
Shellie Rushing Tomlinson
LOL! Turtles, Girdles, and Yoyo’s– that’s pretty good. I don’t remember us giving those initials words, but I think your version works! Blessings on those grandbabies (they’ll always be grandbabies, right?)