In a world wrenched by wars, conflict, misery and discontent on virtually every continent, it’s easy to think that God has closed the book on His unending grace. I can think, though, of times of undeniable grace occurring in surprising places.

When we were fostering a little girl in our home, I had to take her to a pediatrician for a physical. The doctor talked with me at length about the child’s past and the care we were giving her. She, the doctor, also gave me advice after the examination. When I stopped at the window to pay , the receptionist said,”The doctor said there is no charge.” I was surprised, and felt that I had received a remarkable grace.

It happened also when Jack and our daughter were rehabilitating animals that had been hurt or were sick. When we took a wounded squirrel to the veterinarian, he gave us medicine and advice and took time to examine the animal. When I tried to pay him, he said, “I don’t charge for the wild ones.” I felt again the simple grace of unselfish generosity.

In the Book of John, the very defining characteristic of Jesus the Christ, is this grace that can sometimes be seen in our ordinary lives: The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:17)

Through all the noise of an election season in America, the evidence of grace may still be found. Grace, the free and undeserved gift of God to us of salvation itself is like the sharing of food from a mother to her child. Without paying attention, we can miss the life-giving power of the gift of such favor: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23-24)

Some days we fail to experience even a glimmer of grace in our world, but the apostle Paul wrote, also in his letter to the Roman Christians, “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more . . . so also grace might reign to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20)

The world doesn’t always recognize grace, or even accept it, and grace is sometimes hard to find, but Jesus promised, “ I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. ( John 14:18) The surprising presence of Christ in our lives is pure grace.

Love in Him

Prue