Monday, August 29, 2016

Dear God,

There is a sweet, sweet scent to grace.  Grace reaches out, forgives, erases, heals, and makes whole.  The smell of grace lingers for a long, long time.

I've made many mistakes in my nearly 70 years.  I have failed to live up to your hope for me.  I have lost my way and traveled down paths that warned of trouble.  I have set aside my faith and trust in you to follow my own desire.  I have held on to resentment and bitterness just so I could remain stuck in the proverbial mud.  I have lowered my head to the ground instead of lifting my eyes to heaven. 

Yet, grace found me each time.  Although I thought I was well hidden away, grace chased after me and was never far behind.  When your grace caught up with me, I fell to my knees acknowledging your grace is always better than anything else I would choose to cling to.  And there in the mud, smudged, dirty, and repentant, your grace kissed me leaving a scent I would never forget.

Holy God,
powerful and forgiving,
thank you
for grace
that changes us.
Thank you
for extraordinary moments
when you
leaned down
and took
my face
into your hands.
Thank you
for the
sweet kiss
of unconditional love,
grace at its best.

Love always, Andrea