Sometimes grace is a long table spilling forth with bounty for eating.
Sometimes grace is a tender embrace from a family member who’s felt far away.
Sometimes grace is a joy-filled smile on the face of a child enduring unspeakable poverty.
Sometimes grace is peace beyond sense when the loss you’re enduring seems it should be crushing you.
Sometimes grace is silence.
And sometimes grace is backyard raspberry bushes producing full, deep colored berries in the month of November.
You just never know with grace.
It can be so unexpected. But it calls to us. With its big, loving hands draws us over to see. Grab a bowl. Take and eat these berries.
They’re the best you’ve had all year.
Sometimes we enjoy every grace drip. And sometimes we try to push the bowl away, feeling undeserving of such blessing.
Everywhere gifts.
This fresh, clean air.
This food to fill our bellies.
This forgiveness.
This unconditional love.
This family.
Who am I to cradle these perfect baby feet in my hands three times over when others hold inside treasures they’ll never meet this side of heaven?
Who am I to walk across this kaleidoscope carpet of fall when others know only concrete under feet and smog air in lungs?
I don’t know.
But he beckons me to come along paths he’s created for me, and for you. To look beauty full in the face. To see and give thanks for these bountiful glimpses of heaven.
“Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. See!…The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.” (Song of Solomon 2)
He adores. He affirms. He gives.
And this Grace that beckons, it is everywhere. Encouraging us to come near. Look up. Taste and see.
In those moments we cast distracted, blurred eyes up to see and receive, we take and eat divine fruit. We behold the hand of the Giver, the Lover.
All abundant gift.
I pray you enjoy Thanksgiving with your dear blessings and look forward to drawing near with you again next week. Also, there’s more to come in the Tuesday grace series. I’d love if you continued to join me.
This is Week 3 in a series of Tuesday grace conversations. To catch up to this point, you can see Week 1 – Grace that begins it all and Week 2 – Grace that bends, grace that blesses.
Connecting through the power of stories written, spoken and lived
Such exquisite beholding, such beauty-writing, it makes me cry. Thank you Ashley, always and ever, thank you for the gifts you share. And i thank God for the gift you Are. Love, mama
aahhhhh… a deep refreshing breath helping me focus. Thanks
Thank you, Martha. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your dear family.
So amazing! You are so great at these devotional thoughts! So perfect for mom’s or all women who are just “too busy” to slow down and think some deep thoughts. Have you ever done the Breaking Free study by Beth Moore? Your quote from Psalm of Sol., reminds me of her study. How we are like Tammar and feeling ugly and defiled without worth but when she looks at her reflection, (the reflection of what Jesus Christ sees) He sees a beautiful glowing face, perfect, undefiled, with a glowing crown of many jewels. A gorgeous princess who is ready and willing to serve Him and do his will. That’s us!
-Annie
Hi Annie. Thank you. No, I have to admit I’ve never done a Beth Moore study. Not because I don’t have interest or wouldn’t enjoy it. More because my CBS study (which I love) takes my Bible study time. (I would like to do one some day.) I really love that portion you shared about Tamar. What a great picture for all of us. Sending you love and hopes for a very Happy Thanksgiving with your family.
Thank you for awaking the grace in my life. I am blessed to have so much
and see those who have so little. May we all enjoy our holiday and give thanks for his blessings and your beautiful blogs.Mom.
Thank you so much, Mom. I treasure your comment. We are truly blessed. We’ll miss you on Thanksgiving. Love you.
I say grace today for all that I have and enjoy in life. Someone once said ” grace is the moral quality of kindness”. I cannot recall who said it but it is profound. Love, Papa