My oldest grandson seen here helping me drive the boat on our vacation demonstrated grace & truth to me in a way only children can.  The last morning our family was together on vacation, he crawled up into my lap to give me hugs and tell me bye.  As I told him I loved him, he looked at me, smiled big and said: “Papa B – you stink.”  I was taken back and asked him what he said.  He repeated it again: “Papa B – you stink.”  We’d just gotten up and had breakfast; I hadn’t been outside so I didn’t fully understand.  Then he smiled, hugged me and said: “Papa B, your breath stinks.”  That made sense because we’d just gotten up.

As I thought about the humor and honesty of his comments, I loved the idea that he was completely truthful with no malice.  In fact, he still hugged me and loved me as genuinely as he possibly could.  We laughed and I told him I loved him too.

In many ways I wish we would practice the grace and truth of kids.  They can speak absolute truth (we need to hear – my breath did stink) and do it with mercy, grace and love (the qualities of Jesus who was always full of grace and truth – John 1:14).