Students will make ignorant mistakes from time to time. Most of them will not be a matter of life and death; howbeit, we parents all too often perceive them to be. They will say wrong words, choose wrong actions, and think wrong thoughts. Never fear. Even human error can become a valuable learning tool when coupled with patience and God's amazing grace.

There were days I believed my children were capable of adult-size responsibility and intelligence but later discovered that I was somewhat disillusioned. They got into trouble-- not because they were being rebellious, spiteful, or foolish-- but because they were simply ignorant; they didn't know what they were doing or they didn't see the potential danger. Times like this, a moment of grace can strengthen your children's relationship to you in a powerful and permanent way. Their learning and discernment process can actually be sharpened by your calm response. Ranting and raving over someone's ignorance may actually provoke them to wrath. Grace, on the other hand, is a powerful means of illuminating one's understanding, edifying one's heart, and maturing one's cognizance-- all at once.

Grace to grow beyond your current confines (II Kings 6:1-2).
When the sons of the prophets thought their classroom quarters were too close for comfort, Elisha listened intently to their ideas. He let them develop their own plan and then supported them in it. The prophet of God could have said, "This place is good enough" or "We can't afford to build or move," or "I think you need to pray about it a little longer." Instead, he went along with it realizing that God may have a lesson in it for everyone (and He did!).

My son, Dane, seems to have his own ideas of what homeschooling should be like. His creativity has stretched both my wife and me from time to time. One day I walked into the bathroom and was startled by what I saw. Dane was sitting in a bathtub lined with pillows and blankets and his school work was neatly organized on the floor. My initial reaction was to scold him and send him out to the dining room table with his brothers. Instead, I gave him the grace to try it out. I don't remember how long the bathroom was used as a learning center, but Dane felt he was growing beyond the confines of our classroom and needed the space to test his philosophies. Grace provided him the opportunity, and grace made it a meaningful, short-lived experience.

Grace to save face (II Kings 6:24-7:2).
The king of Syria had besieged the city of Samaria and, as a result, a terrible famine was taking place within the borders. All trade had been cut off and the people were getting desperate for food. City life became inconceivably ugly. In a state of frustration and grief, the king lashed out at the one person who could help him: Elisha. King Jehoram wanted Elisha's head brought to him by day's end.

When the king and his messenger arrived at Elisha's house, they found him sitting in company with the elders. Their intent was to accuse him and blame him and then "cuff him and stuff him." Blame never solves anything, though, and Elisha knew that sometimes people need the grace to discharge the ugly things on their mind without being beaten up for it. I'm not condoning dishonor or disrespect, mind you, but grace is an effective means of diffusing trouble when others feel the need to vent their spleen at you (see Proverbs 15:1). Elisha's uninvited guests wanted his head; He offered them comforting words from the Lord instead: "Tomorrow the famine will be over." Elisha was a grace-filled, giant of a man in my book; he could take the heat and the raging storm without having an emotional melt down himself. That is grace.