Gas-powered Grace

When my son, Jordan, headed off to boot camp with the Army, there were some adjustments to make in the family.  One particular adjustment was in the way of household duties.  Our family holds to the belief that everyone makes a mess so everyone can help with some chore so that our household can continue to function at some level of normal :).
Over the years we've discussed whether to pay our children for those chores.  Focus on the Family and Dave Ramsey both mention this in their books when it comes to kids and money.  In the end this is what we decided: each person will be responsible for some chores....without pay, however, for additional jobs that are outside of the "norm" we can work out a deal.  For example, my husband has paid our boys or gave them some sort of deal when it came to painting the house. 
Back to the problem: Our new season with one less laborer in the home. :) After some discussions, we came up with some ideas to cover Jordan's chores...even dad is getting into this act!  So, one of Andrew's regular chores is to mow the grass.  Since the riding mower is not working, its back to the gas-powered mower. Not only is it a bit more work, but it definitely takes longer to do.  With all the rain we have had here, the yard has been noticeably rough.  Fireant piles are leaping up seemingly overnight and the weeds are spread throughout the yard.  It was time to remind our son that this job was needing to be done.  Where was he?
Well, this week he is a volunteer Jr. camp counselor so he has been gone from 8 ish to 5 ish everyday.  Sounds like a long day?  Last night he went to bed 1 hour earlier than usual!  Yes, it's a long day! :)  So should we still expect him to do the lawn this weekend even though he is losing his voice, has soccer tryouts in a couple days out of town, and will be doing soccer camp all next week (also out of town)?  But here is where the story gets to the point....(you were wondering, huh?)

"Gas-powered Grace machine"

After working out yesterday, my legs were really feeling it so I got the idea that I could mow some of the front lawn and work out some of the soreness.  I got up.  Hubby got the mower ready for me and away I went! 
So I'm trucking right along, feeling pretty good about myself (even mentally patting myself on the shoulder for coming up with such a creative work out!).  About 20 minutes into my job, I start to wonder if this was such a great idea....I mean, really this is Andrew's job, right?!  Am I bailing him out?  Shouldn't I be teaching him responsibility? 
That's when a still small voice in my head said, " You love Andrew.  This is grace."  WOW!

 So, yah, I was getting a workout but my motivation was now shared by the idea that I get to be a picture of God's grace to my son as well as a reminder of the great Grace that our Father in heaven extends to me on a daily basis.  I don't deserve the abundant life that I have but God gives it to me because He loves me!  And I love Andrew so I can teach him about grace with this gas-powered lawn mower! 
Hear me clearly though: I am not saying do away with kids' chores!  Seriously?!  I didn't finish all of the mowing portions today simply because : 1) I am so out of shape that it would take me days to get it all done and by then it would be time to start over!  2) I have some other commitments that prevent me from being able to do it all in one day  3) God didn't tell me to do it all. 
No, I am not planning to take on mowing on a regular basis! ( I only hope I can walk tomorrow....my legs already feel like rubber!) I know he will notice the lawn when he comes home.  He is a good kid so I know he will say, "Thank you," but that will just be gravy for me.  When he asks me why, I won't tell him it was because I needed to work out (although I do) or because I felt sorry for him ( which I did).  Instead, I'll tell him, "Because I love you."   And probably that will open the door to talk a little more about grace...