That one lone candle burning, multiplied by hundreds across the auditorium singing, ‘Silent Night, Holy Night,’ almost as if the flames flickering together whispered that enough light could change the whole world.
When Believers stop being the light, what else is left to shine into the darkness?
We need the Light, and we need our light to give eternal hope to those who have little in this Christmas season and throughout the year.
A young woman is selling crafts in a booth, putting everything on the line to make this little business of hers survive.With a smile on her face, she greets a customer wearing a bright red ‘Jesus Is The Reason For The Season’ sweatshirt, who mocks her products, her prices, and caustically informs her that she could buy these items cheaper online.Her heart sinks.Her spirit wanes.Does anyone know she’s barely making it?Does anyone care that she’s just holding on by a thread?
A man is waiting on his last table after working two double-shifts.His arms are heavy, his mind distracted, and after hearing the man at the table say grace in one breath, he felt the sweltering weight of his attacks come at him hard in the next breath—all for a simple mistake.
Everyone is looking for a fight, it seems.Everyone is ready to pounce, ready to spoil, ready to curse anyone who steps in our way.Even Believers.Yes, even us.
A Heart of Grace
Life doesn’t always offer us much grace, but we all are starved for grace to keep us going, to put one foot in front of the other, and fight our battles for one more day.
The essence of salvation is the heart of grace.
Wasn’t Grace what was offered to us when we were at our lowest, broken place, wallowing in our sin? Isn’t Grace the gift of the Christ child that was always meant to be given away?
But it’s easy to lose our grace-gift when life steps in and slams the door on us, knocking us off our feet.Sometimes our vision gets blurred and we can’t see the Light or feel Grace holding us up.Our grace-gift gets bruised by life’s disappointments and forgotten by today’s tragedies.
Sometimes it seems we can’t afford any grace.Grace for ourselves, or grace for others.
If there is no grace, there is no light, and if there is no light, who will shine the Light into the darkness?
The Wise not only still follow the Light, seek the Light — they become the Light._Ann Voskamp
Becoming a Grace-Giver
So my heart nods as my head determines to focus this Christmas on giving Grace-gifts —Grace that sees others, that bends in and listens, that gives and loves, and offers blessing wherever I am going, whatever I am doing.
Because our neighbors need Grace to know they matter, our co-workers need Grace to know we care.The girl at the craft show, and the man waiting tables need Grace, too, to let them know their life matters to God and to us, and that they are not alone in this cold, hardened world.
And the greatest news is this: the more Grace we offer the world, the more Grace comes in and fills our hearts —from the bottom up, full to overflowing.
Grace begets more Grace.And Light begets more Light.
So let’s sow Grace wherever we go this Christmas season.Scatter it far and wide— in the most grace-less places, the most hardened heart-soil.We all need more Grace, not less.
[click_to_tweet tweet="So let’s sow Grace wherever we go this Christmas season. Scatter it far and wide— in the most grace-less places, the most hardened heart-soil. We all need more Grace, not less." quote="So let’s sow Grace wherever we go this Christmas season. Scatter it far and wide— in the most grace-less places, the most hardened heart-soil. We all need more Grace, not less."]
You need Grace to waken your spirit and give you Life.
You need Grace to remember that you are a child of God and that you are enough.
You need Grace to hang onto when you can’t see the road ahead and you can’t find much of anything to steady your faltering steps.
You need Grace to keep getting out of bed while hoping for a better day.
You need Grace to rescue you when your fears have overwhelmed your dreams, and you’re too battered and too weary to risk reaching out one more time.
Fear tells us to never trust anyone, but Grace tells us we can trust the One who gave us EVERYTHING.
Grace-givers know we are all moving forward on or journey, but we don’t have to walk alone.
Grace-givers believe that every word is a gift, and every moment an opportunity to help encourage someone along their way.
Grace-givers know that seeds scattered wide will reap a harvest of life and light.
Somehow I notice the little light at the top of the tree gives out the brightest light.As if the Light reminds me that He can illuminate my dimmest, hopeless, doubting places, too, and give me Grace that shines brighter than the stars.
About This Community
Don't we all want a little peace? My heart for this community is to provide just that - a needed refuge from all the burdens that weigh us down, some encouragement and inspiration to keep us weary travelers moving forward on our journeys, and some practical advice to help each of us navigate the challenges of life and relationships. Whether in our parenting, our marriages, our faith, or the broken places in our hearts, this place is for anyone who dares to reach beyond the hopelessness that surrounds us and embrace a lifestyle of emotional abundance and peace!
About Peace for a Lifetime
In my book, Peace for a Lifetime, I share the keys to cultivating a life that’s deeply rooted, overflowing, and abundant, the fruit of which is peace. Through personal and professional experience as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I've discovered how to take the broken pieces of life and find indestructible peace with myself, God and with others. Through my story and other’s stories you’ll realize that you can experience the life for which you long. You can experience abundance beyond anything you can imagine. You can experience peace, not just for today, not just for tomorrow. You can experience peace —for a lifetime!
Peace for a Lifetime is available on Amazon.com.
Book Trailer: https://vimeo.com/155392891
