Day 24: Grace Goggles

Let the whole earth shout triumphantly to the Lord! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we are his—his people, the sheep of his pasture.Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations. Psalm 100

One of my favorite writers (I actually have a pretty long “favorites” list because I love to read!), Frederick Buechner, wrote: “Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.” And I found myself doing that very thing—listening to the miraculous heartbeat of my own life—while staying at Captiva Island in Florida recently with my Aunt Darlene, who’s only eight years older than me and therefore more like a sister.

We were ambling along the shore at low tide in quiet companionship, both of us lost in our own thoughts, while Missy trailed behind us, happily examining shells and seaweed and the way periwinkle holes disappear then reappear with each wave. Darlene stopped in her tracks and asked sincerely, “Could you have imagined five years ago that you’d be visiting a place like this with your daughter?”

I thought about her question for a few seconds and then said, “No.” I was going to say something else—being concise really isn’t one of my strong suits—but I had to stop trying to speak because a giant lump of gratitude from my heart jumped into my throat and choked me into watery-eyed submission.

When God rescues you from a pit you dug yourself and carries you to an extraordinary, new chapter of life where His tangible redemption runs around in a bright blue swim cap and pink goggles squealing, “Look at this, Mama!” it’s not hard to be overwhelmed with thanksgiving.

For you, redemption may not look just like mine did on that salty-aired day at the sea, but it looks like something. If you listen to your life, and really look to see where God’s hand has been at work, miracles will surely show themselves.

• When you quiet the chatter in your head, and really listen to the miracle of your life, what are you most thankful for this season?
• Do you consider life itself a grace from God? Why or why not?
• Where has God carried you into a new chapter of life, showing you tangible redemption?