Grace and Gratitude

It is time for me to acknowledge my gratitude to God for the healing of body & spirit!


GRACE implies a willingness to grant favors. A virtue coming from God. The first priority then is being thankful to God for our blessings - no matter how may or how few they happen to be.

MERCY is a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion. It implies compassion that forbears punishing even when justice demands it. Our sins are pardoned. Grace and Mercy cannot be separated - they have share meaning elements.

GRATITUDE or Thankfulness is one of the most important and beautiful words in the English language. The dictionary defines it as 'an acknowledgement of a favor, gift or benefit,' but beyond that this wonderful word is gratifying to the giver and heart-warming to the receiver. I recall reading that gratitude is not only the memory, but the homage of the heart, rendered to God for His Goodness.

Gratitude is all too rare. Too much is taken for granted. The more blessings we have, the less we appreciate them. Just as gratiude is one of the finest attributes of mankind, ingratitude is one of the most tragic shortcomings.

I always thought I would write a book aboout my faith called: "Grace and Gratitude." When I finally did write about my faith, I called it: 'In the Meanwhile,' starting with Grace & Gratitude and ending with Holding Hands, for it is what we do with our lives in between after accepting His Grace that bring us to the last, Holding Hands with God.

Our gratitude for blessings received should be as sincere and deeply rooted as the mercies sought and grace given. It should be based on the Grace through Faith we have in God, who offers us a chance for eternal life.

My heart is full to overflowing in gratitude for the blessings I have received from friends and family and the realization that God's Grace is with us always.

Shakespeare petitioned: O Lord, who lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness.

The Bible is still the greatest guide in the world, if you know how to use it. For this alone, we should thank God.

You came to earth in human form

You experienced all walks of life

You taught and healed the multitude

Whose lives were full of strive.

You have wiped my past away

You know me through and through

Your mercy is more than I deserve

Each and everyday I start anew.

You have walked and talked with me

You have taught me how to pray

I've learned to wait for answers

In all things come what may.

And in our daily problems

The Holy Spirit's there to guide

The words we cannot express

You abundantly provide.

Dear Lord, I'm very thankful

For the Grace you do bestow

My grateful heart rejoiced

In the blessings that I know.

Wilhelmine

FRIENDSHIP

Genuine friends are like pearls; they should be cherished & preserved. And if you have a friend worth loving, love them and let them know it……and that is just what many friends here at Chambrel and Church are doing.

When news was known about my impending surgery, I received a flood of calls and notes full of love and concern with promises of prayers. I’m truly blessed!

The beauty of true friendship is when a person likes you for what you are in spite of all your faults and all your shortcomings. One in whose understanding and virtue you can equally confide in and whose opinion you can value for its sincerity. One who comes to your side not only when you’re on top, but when you’re down in the dumps, or sick, or needy, or in trouble.

Robert Lewis Stevenson once said: “We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we can find in our travels is an honest friend."

Abe Lincoln said: “The better part of one’s life consists of friendships.”

A friend loveth at all times….Proverbs 17:17

To know you have friends come what may,
Can brighten a dark & cloudy day.
Life is full of ups and downs,
Of smiling faces and of frowns.
Of kind words said and those unspoken
Of pledges made and promises broken
The best way to show you really care
Is to have a heartwarming smile to share.
To see someone’s smiling face,
Regardless of the time or place
Cannot easily be explained
Or a kind word said to ease one’s pain
Can surely warm one’s heart indeed
To be a true friend in time of need.
Wilhelmine

ADVERSITY

This was written to bolster my morale as I face major surgery. I have had too much time to ponder while waiting for a surgery date. Today was my Pre-op and also my birthday and I spent all day at the hospital having a procedure that was necessary before I have surgery on the 8th. I did get lots of cards & well-wishes and spent the day with my daughter - that was a plus.

When I had Hepatitis the following scripture was meaningful: “…..but they that wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.“ Isaiah 40:31. I even had a plaque printed with this scripture until a friend needed it more than I did and I passed it on.

Deut.33:27 says “The eternal God is your dwelling place and underneath are the everlasting arms.” I had a painting of Christ with his arms and hands outstretched. I always found solace in looking at this picture when I needed assurance in time of need. I gave this picture away when a friend moved out of state and she needed the same assurance the picture portrayed for her.

When I’m anxious or troubled, my son, Steve tells me to go back and read my blogs. Instead, I’m writing a new one to fortify me for what lies ahead.

I read somewhere that frequently it takes adversity to really test a person’s fortitude.
The late Walt Disney once said: “You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world, you may come away grinning.”

A German proverb says: “He who has not tasted bitter does not know what sweet is”

In China a philosopher said: “The diamond cannot be polished without friction or the man perfected without trial.”

The poet Longfellow wrote: Let us be patient! These afflictions not from the ground arise, but oftentimes celestial benediction assumes this dark disguise.

An unknown writer penned these lines which were adopted as a motto for the famous Kennedy family: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

Then there is the words to a song….Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag and smile, smile, smile.

I think I’ll settle on the scripture: “Thou shall keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.”
Isaish 26:3

God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower strewn pathways all our lives through.
But GOD HATH PROMISED strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.