“Grace and peace be unto you …”
These words are popular ancient Greek and Hebrew greetings and yet are still so welcomed and needed today! Isn’t it interesting how much we can learn from history? Thousands of years ago, people were looking for peace in their struggle-filled lives and here we are today, 2011, still searching for those same valued commodities in our own life, grace and peace. Although I don’t have all the answers, I do acknowledge that I have confirmed in my own life that much peace is found when grace is extended.
When trying to obtain a working definition of the word “grace” I searched the dictionary and discovered the following words used to describe grace: “elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action; a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment; favor or goodwill; a manifestation of favor; mercy; pardon.”
Note the highlighted words … grace is “a beautiful action that has a pleasing quality of goodwill and a manifestation of favor, mercy and pardon.” In a world that seems to be spinning out of control – especially when we have totally blown it – grace is what each of us desire. Grace extended is a free gift and we each have the opportunity to give and receive grace on a daily basis. True grace is found when it is offered unconditionally and undeserved. The next time we find ourselves in a situation where we have every right to retaliate or execute punishment, why not consider extending a measure of grace instead? Think about the encouragement this gift of grace offers and difference it can make in the lives of those around us.
There is a quote that goes something like this: “To whom much is given, much is required.” We each have so much for which we should be grateful. We literally receive a measure of grace on a daily basis, whether we realize it or not. We have received enough grace to last a lifetime and yet some of us are often hesitant to extend and share this same grace with those around us.
I recently received an email from a cousin. It was one of those that seems to be forwarded through cyberspace and if I’m honest, when I see these type of emails in my inbox, I often hesitate taking the time to read them all, but this particular time I decided this one would be read – “After all, it is from an out-of-state family member and there might actually be a personal note attached….” Truthfully, there wasn’t a personal note attached, and no, I did not forward it to anyone else, but it did give me some “food for thought.” I had already been pondering “Grace and Peace” and the email just added another important aspect to my thought process: It is called “When Your Hut Is On Fire”:
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, ‘God! How could you do this to me?’
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! ‘How did you know I was here?’ asked the weary man of his rescuers. ‘We saw your smoke signal,’ they replied.
The Moral of This Story: It’s easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering.
Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God. P.S. You may want to consider passing this on, because you never know who feels as if their hut is on fire today….
Until next time … May your life be filled with Grace and Peace!
