Even the Tiniest Graces

After receiving some very special input from my last post (see “comments” underneath the last post), it made me think how important it is to recognize even the tiniest Graces that come into our lives.  Very often, these can be common, normal occurrences; but, just think what your life would be like without them.  I will share a couple examples:

When I was a little girl, my Grandmother would often take me shopping with her.  This was a special treat, which typically meant staying overnight at her home, getting up in the morning and having breakfast with her and heading out for a fun day.  My Grandmother never drove, so we took the bus downtown.  I loved shopping with her – plus, we typically stopped for lunch at a little 1950s coffee shop.  I waited patiently for my Grandmother to order coffee because the waitress would bring a tiny bottle of cream—a miniature milk bottle!  My Grandmother would use what she needed and then let me drink the rest from the tiny bottle.  That memory brings me warmth when I think of those days; and now when I see those little bottles in antique stores, I can smile inside for the Grace that was bestowed upon me.

A more recent experience happened here in the White Mountains of Arizona, where we have really beautiful seasons.  One autumn day, I was looking out the window and golden leaves were beginning to drop.  I wondered what it was like being a leaf—is it exciting to make your last expression on the earth and fall from the tree?  Just at the moment I had that thought, a leaf began to fall from a Gambel Oak Tree outside my window—it literally stopped at eye level to me, spun in a circle a few times, then floated to the ground!  I knew my answer immediately!  That little leaf appeared to be animated with joy!

Lastly, this past weekend, I happened to catch Joel Osteen’s program.  He was talking about the “ingredients” that come into our life – both bitter and sweet.  He shared an analogy of what he taught his children when they were little.  They baked chocolate chip cookies as a family one day – but first – he and his wife set out each of the ingredients and had their children taste them.  Of course, their children were not too pleased to taste flour and baking soda.  His lesson was that sometimes God has us taste the bitterness in life so that we eventually realize that that was only one ingredient that added to the richness of our life.  Just as each of those ingredients, when blended and baked, became yummy cookies, so does our life have ingredients of bitterness and sweetness that, when blended, enrich our life.  The importance is for us to have patience to await God’s plan to come to fruition.  So, when those bitter moments come, know there is a bigger plan that is in the works for God’s beauty to come forth once all the ingredients are blended.  Awaiting the fruition of our life gives us cause to be animated with joy for what’s to come!

The Amazing Grace of God's Will

In my last post, I talked about being receptive to God’s Grace.  In the process, I shared my experience of receiving a message of Grace after trying to understand God’s will and our will.  Let’s talk more about God’s will and how “willingness” (also discussed previously), comes into play.

I understand how hard it is to be willing to accept God’s will.  Our humanity, our ego, wants to cling to something solid and familiar here on earth, something that makes us feel secure and comfortable and something to grasp that won’t let go.  However, that “something” will always be short-lived and soon we will be looking for yet another “something” to replace it.  This brings anxiety, stress and disappointment to our life.

Willingness is required in order to believe, to trust, to let go and to live God’s will.  Often we ask: Does that mean I have to give up painting, which I really enjoy – or writing – or gardening?  God gave each of us wonderful skills and He doesn’t expect us to be something that we are not.  When our heart sings because of the work we do or the pastimes we enjoy, that is His creativity coming through us.  Instead of being afraid that God might turn us into something different that we might not enjoy, realize that God always makes things better for us.  “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

An easier way to look at this is not to look at “what do I need to give up” but realize that God’s Grace is a never-ending gift that just keeps on giving.  Sometimes we get lost in our life’s journey – a loss of a job, financial hardships, tragedies or a loss of someone close to us.  When we are willing, we realize that God actually is using those difficult times to strengthen us and to bring more depth into our lives, which enriches our lives.  So, instead, it becomes an opportunity to await the newness and the change and the plan that God has for each one of us.  This takes patience.  The Creator of the entire universe is supporting us each day – and is with us on every turn – and we must grow in trust to realize that.  Remember this passage: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Our part in the process is to utilize our will alongside God’s will – it eventually feels like we’re actually working together – what a concept, huh!  In this process, we become so appreciative and grateful for God’s will that we want our will to work together with His.  We relinquish our resistance and receive every moment as a potential to play out God’s will, which is the gift of Grace.