grace comes alive....

i am amazed at people's generosity sometimes...it doesn't make sense. it doesn't make sense for a stranger to give or help someone they don't know...it even seems out of sorts when those you do know you might expect it from, but not a mere stranger...if it seems so un-natural that is because we are looking at it through the world's eye, our society's view of keeping to yourself, taking care of self and looking out for number one, etc. 

but if we simply look at what God's word has to say and we look at helping others through His lens, than there is no such thing as a stranger and this act of kindness totally makes sense....these people are just listening, obeying and being His and hands and feet in His stead......

yet, i am still overwhelmed with this sweet stranger, who only knows me from my written words here, who has blessed us greatly today to help make sydney's memorial possible....and i am left in tears and awestruck at how something as beautiful and precious and gracious like that instantly chases all the bad cynical things into the deepest of shadows...all the bad i woke up with today is quickly melted away, even if for a small time, with the warmness of this stranger...good does overcome evil....sometimes bad things will happen, but good hearted people who love the Lord and live out his empathy and compassion will use it for a time to bless those who hurt...Grace brings God's people together like a fourth quarter rally in the last 15 seconds of a game....His people, who know and truly understand His Grace, who have received it in their own lives are inspired to pour it back into others, to share Grace's gift and pay it forward....it blows me away...even years and years later after "getting" the idea of Grace finally (it took me 21 years), it still knocks me to the ground when people put it into practice and live it....you CANNOT give or receive Grace and not be changed, you just can't.

thank you sweet stranger whom i just met this afternoon. i hope you are blessed ten fold for your blessing of others...

you have lifted my spirits and my heart and reminded me that God is still good even if my world isn't right now...you have caused Grace to come alive in my dark heart again, even if just for a short afternoon...what a tremendous blessing. thank you.

you will never know what your kind gesture spoke to both me and ian...