Grace Moments

Today I had many…and by today, I mean before 8:30 this morning.

I rolled out of bed at 2am because it was cold…and rolling out of a warm bed at 2am because your face is cold is always a good idea. I crawled back in bed knowing the alarm would go off in 3.5 hours. It did. It always does. I hit snooze 3 times before I started telling God how much I wanted to stay in bed and skip work because I was tired and it was cold and the school was far. And then He said, “You didn’t have to wake up this morning. I let you though. I want you to experience today.” Grace moment.

I walked to work in -19c frigidness and my eyelashes froze as usual. The car was frozen and the office was chilly while I waited for the engine to heat. Off and on the road at 7:20 for a long day of teaching. I asked God to go before me on my long drive to school, to keep me alert and awake, and to get me there safely. And about a third of the way there, my car broke down. I called my boss who told me he’d be there ASAP but to wait in the car. If the engine isn’t on, the heater doesn’t work. I brought my thermos of hot coffee and my beanie in my work bag. Grace moment.

I watched numerous cars pass my blinking hazard lights on the farm back road. What to do to help pass the time. I laughed. Thank You, Jesus for warm coffee and my beanie and my Bible. We sat and shared a morning laugh and good conversation before my boss came. Grace moment.

My boss came, picked me up, drove me to school, and handed me a bag with three donuts. His wife was worried I didn’t eat breakfast because it was so early. He told me to eat them tomorrow or under my desk if I got hungry during the day. He said he’d pick me back up at 3pm. I felt like I was a little kid at school all over again. Of course, I’m late to get to school, and everyone is worried. They said I’m lucky my cell phone worked where my car broke down. I nodded. Grace moment.

God’s goodness is always there—it’s just a matter of perspective. It’s like a shadow—the absence of light from a certain perspective. And in the course of 3 hours, I saw God’s goodness in places I probably wouldn’t have. Grace for the moment. Grace in the moment. God is good, even when it’s cold, the car breaks down, and I’m late for work. Life is full of God's goodness…it’s just a matter of seeing the moments of grace.