Grace be Given You

Not all of us recognize that we have been graced in our lives and we may point out evidence to support this.
‘But to each one of us grace has been given.’ Ephesians 4:7
Grace is a gift of wonderment because it is freely given to each of us without merit.
So how do we recognize the grace that has been given to us? What are some examples of grace?
• Any goodwill act given to us during a time when we are in need would be considered grace.
• Any ability or talent that we have is considered grace.
• Any time we are granted mercy for wrongful acts we have committed, we have been given grace.
• Winning against the odds is grace.
• Being safe in the midst of war or violence is grace.
• Salvation is grace.
This brings to mind the situation of one of my girlfriends. She got laid off her job six months ago. She is a single mom with three young children, living in a one bedroom apartment. Months would go by knowing that she did not have money coming in to pay her rent.
I finally asked her one day when I was visiting her, “Has your land lord said anything to you about not paying your rent?”
She said, “I just keep telling them that I am looking for a job and as soon as I get the money I will pay them.”
I asked, ” How many months have they let you live here without paying?”
She replied, “Five.”
I just scratched my head in disbelief that she had not received an eviction notice yet. WOW!
I said to her, “It’s so amazing that your landlord would let you live here five months for free! I hope you recognize that this is totally an act of grace!”
She then went on to open her kitchen cupboards, which were packed with food. She said the church up the street gave her a food box for free. Grace again!
Two weeks ago she called me and said she got a part-time job in her career field. She said It would take her over an hour to get there by bus. As grace would have it, another amazing person offered her 3 weeks of bus fare money, until she received her first paycheck.
Can you think of a time in your life when you did not know how you were going to be able to buy groceries or pay a bill or some situation you were faced with that seemed impossible for you to do by yourself?
Looking back can you see how it somehow worked out? You made it through. That is grace.
If you are presented with a situation where you are able to grace someone else so they come to know that grace does exist for all, please feel free to pass on the gift of wonderment:)
This article was written by Elisabeth Davies, MC
www. brightalternatives.com