Keeping Grace Handy

We have some entertaining video footage from one of my daughter’s long ago dance recitals. Jessica and her tap-dancing buddies are dressed from head to toe in vivid yellow. Several times during their big number the little girls are supposed to turn right and skip-to-their-loos in a circle. This part of the routine never goes well because one of the sweet dancers keeps forgetting which way her loo should be skipping. Every time the line turns right, she turns left. Jessica spent the entire dance nudging her confused cohort in the right direction while trying to keep pace with the music and the other girls. Aggravated by her fellow dancer, embarrassed in front of the audience, and yet eager to perform her much-anticipated number, Jessica’s conflicting emotions can be read all over her five-year-old face.

I can relate. Can anyone else? Sometimes it seems waltzing with God would be easier if it weren’t for the antics of those who have spurned their invitation to the dance and are ridiculing us for participating. But, let’s be honest. We can get equally frustrated, if not more so, by those who are dancing to the Lord’s beat right along with us! Scripture teaches that we, as members of Christ’s body, can’t experience His fullness if we’re out of step with our fellow believers. Furthermore, we can’t offer the single greatest witness of our faith to the unbelieving world around us. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13: 35.

So, what are we to do? First, we count on it. Someone’s going to mess up our routine, be it in private or under the embarrassing glare of public lights. And then we prepare for it by living in purposeful awareness and gratitude of Christ, our Savior, steeping ourselves in His company. The more we celebrate the unmerited grace we’ve been given, the handier it will be when we find ourselves needing to pass it on.

Hugs,
Shellie