Grace

I had a fun time out with some wonderful ladies tonight.  We were celebrating my sister-in-law's birthday.  We chatted, laughed, and had good food.  The only problem was that the service was horrible!  Orders were messed up; drinks not refilled; food thrown out instead of boxed up as requested; and it took 20 minutes to get our bill and settle our check.   So when it came time to tipping, most people didn't want to tip much.  I was the one who suggested that we just give 10%.  Most people agreed, although a couple of ladies gave more.  Someone commented to those ladies, "Wow, you have a better heart than the rest of us."

That single comment got me thinking,  and on the drive home I had a heavy conscience.  The Holy Spirit was convicting me and I kept hearing the words, "You failed to show grace as I have shown you grace."  I was guilty as charged and felt ashamed.  We all fall short of God's righteousness.  We are all sinners and make many mistakes -- some we repeat over and over again.  We are undeserving, yet God shows us endless mercy and grace.  His love is so great that he gave his only Son to die on the cross for our transgressions so that we would have eternal life (John 3:16).   All we have to do is believe in Jesus.  We did not earn nor do we deserve this free gift. Yet, he offers it to us free of charge.  "He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time--to show us his grace through Christ Jesus, (2 Timothy 1:9)."

In my annoyance at the poor service, I was not thinking about the waiter as an individual.  Perhaps his girlfriend broke up with him.  Perhaps someone he loved was sick.  Perhaps he was not feeling well.  Simply put, perhaps he was just having a bad day.  Don't we all sometimes have days like that?  I know I do.  I should have been more understanding.  I should have forgiven him for his mistakes, as God has forgiven mine.  "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you, (Ephesians 4:32)." 

When put to the test tonight, I failed.  I failed to show Christ's love and light to another person who may have needed encouragement.  I failed to show grace.  If God were seated at my table today, I would be disappointing him.  He would probably also be very frustrated and annoyed with my "service."  But I believe he would have shown me abundant mercy and grace regardless.  He would have left a good tip even though I didn't deserve it.  He would have done so just to remind me of his love and compassion.   This is the type of good behavior he wants from all of us, especially if we are Christian.  For Christ's light to shine through us onto others, we need to be loving, kind, compassionate, and forgiving.  Most of all, we need to shower grace onto others, even those who seem to not deserve it.  After all, who are we to judge?