Years (and years) back, one church family was helping another by providing regular rides for the middle school youth. For one of the rides just after middle school track practice, the driver showed up late. The middle schooler said, “you’re late!”

To that very correct declaration, there were a number of responses available. One response could have been, “You are lucky that I’m giving you rides at all.” Oh, there are many replies possible.

The direction the driver chose was to talk about grace and forgiveness.

You and I have many bristly and difficult areas of our lives right now. You, and each person you see, is living in the midst of swirling changes. We all handled these past many months as best we could. For all that we see and experience right now in the news and among others we meet, we have MANY replies available. We have many CORRECT responses available.

In this amazing world that is now brimming with angst, fear, facts, germs, recommendations, mandates and opinions, I have an invitation for you:

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)

To put it another way:

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Each person you meet desperately needs the unique life-giving grace of Jesus Christ through you. This is always true, but it is more clearly evident right now.

There may be someone you are counting on (maybe for a ride from track practice), and that person may be late. You may be helping someone, and that person may be sharp with you. You may have many very correct responses available to you. I invite you to the grace prescribed in God’s Holy Word. Everyone you meet has had a tough many months.

In this invitation, I include your treatment of your very self.

We know God poured such overwhelming grace into this world through Jesus Christ. Pray to let that grace wash over you AND the people you meet.

May you be richly blessed…to be a blessing!

In Christ,

Rhodie