Putting the pieces back together...

3/8/11

Today I woke up to a challenge.

Well, I guess just living my life fully seems to be a challenge to me anymore, considering that part of my whole is always missing. But, this morning after I returned to the house from taking Noah to school, something happened.

I had openend up the coat closet and put away my coat, and as I shut the door, I heard a loud crash. I looked to my left and saw my beautiful wall art laying on the ground. It was a beautiful sign that my sweet friend Natalie had given me shortly after Madeline passed away, and it was something I cherished.

Now, it was laying on the tile entry way, in so many pieces.

I let out a "very" frustrated sigh and picked them up. I didn't want to throw them away because I truly adored this gift and it meant a lot to me.
So, I set the pieces on the counter and went on with my day, frustrated and discouraged.

I kept noticing as I would walk by occasionally doing my daily chores that it was still laying there, in all those pieces. It was bothering me.

So, I started to piece them back together.

At first, I figured it was a lost cause. I mean, who would want to look at something on the wall that had been broken and was covered with cracks,and that's when it dawned on me. When the cracks get in is when the light is shown.

As I puzzled the pieces together I noticed something. Out of the two words on the sign, one of the words was still completely whole. It was the word grace.

Grace.

A word that has such depth with me.

The word that is my daughter's middle name.

The word that has carried me through the last 2 months.

The word that reminds me of my salvation.

Grace.

The title of this very blog I am writing on right now.

I love this word. I loved that sign.

And as I stood in my kitchen putting the pieces back together, I was learning a lesson.

Again...

God's grace is always sufficient. His sweet sweet Amazing Grace.

My life may be a mess, and most days it most definately feels like one. But, God gives me grace. He gives me strength. He puts the pieces of my life back together every single day and makes me whole again.

So sometimes when our life feels like this...

God can reach down and do this....

Amazing.

Grace.


Thank you Lord for your grace and for the reminder that sometimes when we feel like all hope is lost, You're there to make us whole with you love.

Grace, grace. God's grace. Grace that is greater than all our sin.

This is my favorite hymn. It always has been, for so many years.

1. Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Refrain:
Grace, grace, God's grace,
grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
grace, grace, God's grace,
grace that is greater than all our sin!

2. Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
threaten the soul with infinite loss;
grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
(Refrain)

3. Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
brighter than snow you may be today.
(Refrain)

4. Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see his face,
will you this moment his grace receive?
(Refrain)

Thank you God for your grace, and thank you Lord for my Maddie Grace.