ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE DAY

Every morning when I wake up I find a neatly wrapped gift lying on my chest. Now I have to admit that in my past I always pushed this gift aside without even looking at it. I was too rushed and determined to get things done to even consider opening it. I was working, pushing, and trying so hard to make my life work out with so little progress at the end of each day. I trudged through all of my pains, challenges and difficulties while things went from bad to worse. I kept crawling through my life until I was too exhausted to go on. Then one morning I finally noticed that beautiful gift lying there and opened it for the first time.

These days when I open my eyes and see the gift waiting for me, I smile. I carefully and happily tear off the paper and open the box. I take out the gift and hold it in my arms. I give thanks for it and bring it with me wherever I go all through the day. This gift makes my life so much better. I meet people with a smiling face and a loving heart. I laugh easily, sing often, and feel my spirit dancing even when my feet don’t. I face life’s struggles, challenges, difficulties, and pains with hope, determination, optimism, and joy. I know that whatever I must face and whatever I must do that this glorious gift will carry me through.

This gift is Grace. It is the unconditional love of God. It is the unmerited help of our Heavenly Father in all we do. Grace is waiting for us each and every morning of our lives. It is waiting to make a home in our hearts and minds. It is waiting for us to share it with the world.

Grace is there ready to help us live our live with love every single day. What are you going to do when you wake up tomorrow morning? Are you going to shove this gift aside and struggle to make it on your own? Or are you going to thank God for this precious gift, take it in your hands, and place it joyfully into your soul?

…..Joseph J. Mazzella (joemazzella@frontier.com) by way of “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)