God's Grace

I feel kind of all over the place lately.  Not in the physical sense, but emotionally and spiritually.  However, I'm working diligently to change that.  I participated in a bible study last week during my lunch hour and it opened my eyes to some very amazing things.  Finances allowing, I am going to vow to a daily devotional and really seek God's work in my life.  

I participated in the Relay for Life in LaGrange this past weekend.  It was exhausting and emotionally draining, but it was for a great cause and I really enjoyed being a part of it.  It was uplifting to see so many cancer survivors and to know that so many had fought such a ferocious battle and won, with several of them having to had fight again when a second cancer showed up.  I admit it was heartbreaking, but it was reassuring that so many had been struck by the disease and fought with everything they had - and won.  Although my grandpa wasn't present at this function, he is a cancer survivor of at least 17 years.  And with so much research and early testing being done these days, many more lives are being saved!  I felt so honored to be a part of such a great cause.  I know that we are so far from a cure (or we may not be, we don't really know, now, do we?), but the fact that the town of LaGrange, TX had raised over $1,000,000 in only TEN years is so amazing!  So many great things have been done with the funds, and they're still going!  It was uplifting to have felt the hand of God touching them.  The only time I was personally effected by the disease was the several trips to the hospital to visit my grandmother.  The picture of her so ill in that bed is still so very clear in my head even though I was so young and didn't fully grasp the gravity of the situation - or what was even going on.  I miss her so much, and tears still come to my eyes every single time I see a picture of her.  She was such a strong and inspirational woman, and that will forever have a strong impact of who I am and want to become.  But it also goes to show that it doesn't matter how strong you are, there are some things that strength can make easier but cannot cure or fix - Cancer is one of them.  I'm so mad that she was taken by cancer, but I know that she fought to the end and she was at peace and pain-free when she left this world.  Seeing every single of those cancer survivors this weekend shows that God continues to work through everyone and helps to understand why things happen the way they do.  By His will, those survivors made it.  He made it possible for the participants to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.  He made it possible for those funds to be placed in the hands of those who knew which area was weakest. He made it possible for researchers, doctors, scientists, and nurses to further understand the disease and the ways in which we can fight it and make it a little easier on those affected, be it those with the disease or the caregivers, friends, families, etc.  By His will, we have a world with more birthdays.  

A few months ago, my brother told me about a radio station that his girlfriend found and suggested to him: 105.9.  I began listening, and I really do like it.  However, trying to remember what station it was a few weeks ago, I stumbled across K-LOVE 106.3.  So, on my way home last night from my parents' house, I tuned the radio to 106.3 and was floored.  Not that I was struggling and REALLY needed the inspiration, but something made me tune in, and I was so glad that I did.  Matthew West's 'Forgiveness' came on, and I was really struck by the lyrics - and they came alive in me: 

It's the hardest thing to give away
And the last thing on your mind today
It always goes to those that don't deserve

It's the opposite of how you feel
When the pain they caused is just to real
It takes everything you have just to say the word...

Forgiveness
Forgiveness

It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It's always anger's own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge 
Say you gotta right to hold a grudge
It's the whisper in your ear saying 'Set It Free'

Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible

Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness

It'll clear the bitterness away
It can even set a prisoner free
There is no end to what it's power can do
So, let it go and be amazed
By what you see through eyes of grace
The prisoner that it really frees is you

Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness

I want to finally set it free
So show me how to see what Your mercy sees
Help me now to give what You gave to me
Forgiveness, Forgiveness

I don't feel that I'm currently burdened by holding a grudge with anyone (that I can recall), but part of the chorus still stuck with me.  Show me how to love the unlovable.  Show me how to reach the unreachable.  Not only is this song about forgiveness, but it's about reaching past the insecurities, looking past your initial reactions to certain people and their situation and helping them.  It's about loving someone who has been unlovable.  It's about reaching someone that's been unreachable.  Don't give up.  Just because someone may be having a truly bad day doesn't make them unworthy of God's love or your time.  It means you should try harder to be a little more accommodating or to look past the cold shoulder and place the faith of God in their path so that they may see it's all a part of His plan.  So, not only should you forgive those who have hurt you and have burdened you with frustration and pain, but you should love them despite the hurt.  Love them despite the bitterness you have in your heart for them.  Show them love instead of hate.  Show them that despite the way they made you feel, you are able to be strengthened by God and really move past the petty differences.  I know that some occurrences of pain and hurt aren't so petty and really cut to the core, but if you are able to still forgive the bigger instances of pain and hurt, the stronger you are and become.  

The DJ last night on the radio show (K-LOVE - I absolutely love the title of their station) then told a story that a listener had emailed to him: 

     A woman and her husband had gone to the grocery store when they noticed the employee retrieving the carts from the parking lot.  The woman observed  that the shoes he was wearing were very worn and falling apart.  As they continued into the store, she could not shake the image of the employee's shoes.  So, after checking out, she convinced her husband to go up to the boy and ask him what size shoes he wears.  He was taken aback and unaware of what point the couple was making - he assumed they were making fun of his current shoes and the fact that he could not afford to buy new ones.  Despite this, he told the husband and went about his work.  As the woman was emailing the DJ of the show, she stated that her husband was on his way at that time to the grocery store with a brand new pair of white sneakers and a slightly worn pair of (I think he said) Toms for the boy.  

How completely unselfish of this couple to spend a few dollars to show this boy God's love and prove him wrong - not everyone uses his financial situation as their humor.  This employee was placed in this couple's path for them to share their faith and to use God's grace to give him a pair of shoes that would support his feet in his work.  This story is a great reminder that there are so many people in this world that are in need of His good graces!  This couple did not snuff their nose at the boy's attire, but instead, they chose to take the opportunity that was presented in front of them to make a difference in the boy's life.  They also show that it's not hard to do.  Let's face it, to help someone in that situation, the boy didn't need the latest fashions or the best thing in foot apparel.  He just needed support for his feet.  So, what did it cost the couple?  Maybe $30 or so?  And how worth it!  This is a truly inspiring story - this is not an example of a heroic feat, but rather one of just being kind to those around us that are struggling and in such need of warmth and compassion.