Source of Grace

Did you know that graces come from unexpected sources?

Of course,

God is the author of all graces.

What you might not realize is that God pours down His Love on us

in ways we might not expect.

You're sitting in traffic.

You've averaged about 20 mph for the last ten miles.

The car behind you is tailgating.

You are getting upset.

If you were going faster, 

that driver might cause a terrible accident.

You are ready to make an obscene gesture with your hand.

A thought flickers in your mind.

 

 

 

 

 

Pray for that driver.

You pray.

 

The driver doesn't quit tailgating, but when there's an opening, the driver sails past you, using that same obscene gesture you were going to make, but you are safe in your car.

You feel peaceful.

The rest of the drive home is not as stressful.

You get off the interstate and drive home.

 Whether you realize it or not, that driver was a source of grace for you.

You prayed.  You received grace. You did not sin. There was no accident.

 

 Praise God from Whom all Blessings flow!

Thank God.

 

There is someone at church who really cannot sing.

You feel that this person should not sing.

This person's voice is very loud and always off key.

People are uncomfortable around this person because this person truly distracts them from the Mass by singing.

The pastor does not say anything.

When people do say something, they gossip.

 

"Sounded like a chicken coup with a fox in there."

"I'm about ready to loose it!"

"Voice lessons didn't work."

"I heard the spouse say that voice kills rats."

 

People prefer to sit behind and away from  this person, but that voice is loud and distracting.

It cannot even be called a Joyful noise.

 

You pray.

You pray again.

No, there is no laryingitis.

There is only distraction and noise.

You pray again and again and again.

 

One day you realize,

you've been praying more than you've been listening to the voice.

The voice hasn't changed, but you seem more peaceful with the voice.

You've moved to a different part of the church,

and you don't hear the voice as much.

 

"Thank You, Lord," you say.  "Praise to You."

 

Then the person with the voice walks up to you and says,

"I want to thank you for being so kind.  I know my voice is terrible.  I wish it weren't so loud, but

I've tried everything.  Even my voice teacher gave up.  I hear what people say.  I guess I'll just be quiet.  Your kindness has been a wonderful grace for me.

Thank you!"

 

Then you realize what a wonderful grace the voice has been to you.

You are more at peace.

You were kind.

The voice drew you to prayer.

 

Which of you received the greater blessings from the voice?

 

Each of us has many chances to grow in grace daily.

God's graces come from unexpected sources and situations.

 

"There's that cranky checkout person.  I'm not going to her."

(source of grace)

"I will.  Her line is short."

"That's because no one likes her."

(source of grace)

 

You call her by name.

She blinks, but she smiles at you.

You thank her for the great job she did checking you out.

You tell her that you hope you can get into her checkout line on the busiest day.

 

It looks like she blinks a small tear.

 

Source of grace for you.

 

Your prayer was your kindness to her.

 

Will she forget?

 

The next time I went through her line, she reminded me that there was a 40% coupon on my mobile device.  She just needed the number.  She said she didn't mind waiting, after all, there weren't many people in her line.