A Grace Filled Hodgepodge

1. How will you celebrate Easter this year?

I will be attending my life group on Zoom, and our church is holding drive in services in the parking lot. They will give us a packet of information as we arrive telling what radio station to tune to and there will be a stage in the parking lot set up for the praise and worship team and the pastor. Our church is doing everything possible each week to stay connected with members and I so appreciate it. Each week we have drive through prayer and everyone brings some items of food for the food pantry.

2. Is it easier for you to receive grace offered or extend grace to another? 

I’m not sure. I do believe I extend grace, but maybe not all the time. It probably depends on the situation. 

Explain. An example from yesterday speaks poorly of me maybe. I had a pick-up order at the grocery store which was delayed by two hours and that was fine with me. Two hours later, they told me my order was ready. I arrived at the store at the time requested. The parking lot was full of people waiting, so I waited my turn and as we moved up in the line no one ever came out to me. I called the number twice and trying to keep this brief, after over an hour waiting, I signaled someone over and I fear I was a little bit grumpy. They said my order was in the process of being filled. I don’t like to complain, I really don’t, but I did, and upon learning a few other things and watching these people work so hard trying to satisfy all the customers, I had to extend grace and tell them how sorry I was and that I appreciated them and give a nice tip for the person who loaded my car.

3. Do you say grace before meals? 

Always, even now, especially as I sit alone at the dinner table. 

If so do you have a standard dinnertime grace or is it more 'off the cuff'? I just pray and thank God for His goodness, continued provision and love for me. 

Do you say grace when dining out? Yes, and when we would travel and be seated with strangers, we did and people most always expressed their gratitude.  Only one experience on a trip did we meet with resistance, but it did give us a chance to witness. 

Do you have a favorite grace? 

Any special memory associated with 'saying grace'? As children, we took turns saying grace:

A funny memory with these are that usually my sister and I were just keeping a sneaky eye on each other waiting to grab the best piece of meat off the platter. My little brother would say, “pray, pray, pray.” And also, I remember when little Jack would scrunch up his face as he looked up to Heaven and just say “Jesus”! It was the sweetest. 

4. What are some challenges you think the next generation will face? (Generation Alpha-born between 2011 and 2025) 

They may be challenged with the loss of things our generation has taken for granted. Things they’ve seen their parents have may not be there for them. I look forward to seeing other answers.  

5. Share a favorite quote or lyric featuring the word faith.

"My faith has found a resting place, Not in device nor creed; 

I trust the Ever-living One, His wounds for me shall plead."

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. 

Hebrews 11:1, 6 (NLT)

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Joining my neighbors for a social visit and keeping our proper distance! What a nice evening for being outdoors to visit--with real people--in person!

My favorite show is Call the Midwife. Each episode always ends with a bit of wisdom and I love this from last Sunday. 

"Not all of us will choose what we give up. The things we love are taken or are never ours at all. Life is defined not by what we let go, but what we let in. Friendship and kind words, frailty and hope. To be human is to be imperfect, and to accept that is to thrive. No path is always strewn with flowers, but therein lies the power of each fragile, tender bloom." ~Call the Midwife