Grace received & Grace given.

1 Timothy 1:14 (NIV) 
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

When I stop to think for a few minutes, meditate on the last verse above, I discover so many times, so many ways, Jesus' Grace swallowed up my guilt. "The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."

This is a difficult topic for me to compose a meaningful blog post on, especially right this moment. I was walking my dog in the gorgeous fall sunshine today, knowing full well there may not be many more like this until next year. My neighborhood and the surrounding area we walk, has few sidewalks making it necessary to walk in the road.

We were approaching a one block area with sidewalks when a car roars past, burning rubber like the driver is trying to get my attention. He screeches to a halt about two car lengths past me and shouts out his window, "Can I ask why you are walking down the middle of the road when there is perfectly good sidewalk all around you?" I suggested he mind his own business to which he promptly used some words that were obviously meant to make him feel powerful and me to feel 'told off.'

Well, it worked. He certainly did tell me off!  Then I was reminded of the topic I planned to write on as soon as I got home. In fact, as I started on the walk I asked God to help me recall an instance where Grace could be the topic.

I realized that, not only do I receive undeserved grace every day of my life, but I have opportunity to also dish out some grace too. In this case I could just forget about the incident and not let it spoil my day.  Or, I could learn from it and the next time chose my words more carefully. I could have said, "I am sorry, yes, you are right."  Then smile and move up to the sidewalk.

That's not my nature, but perhaps it should be.

1 Timothy 1:9-14