Every morning when I wake up I
find a neatly wrapped gift lying on my chest. Now I have to admit that in my
past I always pushed this gift aside without even looking at it. I was too
rushed and determined to get things done to even consider opening it. I was
working, pushing, and trying so hard to make my life work out with so little
progress at the end of each day. I trudged through all of my pains, challenges
and difficulties while things went from bad to worse. I kept crawling through my
life until I was too exhausted to go on. Then one morning I finally noticed that
beautiful gift lying there and opened it for the first time.
These days when I open my eyes and see the gift
waiting for me, I smile. I carefully and happily tear off the paper and open the
box. I take out the gift and hold it in my arms. I give thanks for it and bring
it with me wherever I go all through the day. This gift makes my life so much
better. I meet people with a smiling face and a loving heart. I laugh easily,
sing often, and feel my spirit dancing even when my feet don’t. I face life’s
struggles, challenges, difficulties, and pains with hope, determination,
optimism, and joy. I know that whatever I must face and whatever I must do that
this glorious gift will carry me through.
This gift is Grace. It is the unconditional love of
God. It is the unmerited help of our Heavenly Father in all we do. Grace is
waiting for us each and every morning of our lives. It is waiting to make a home
in our hearts and minds. It is waiting for us to share it with the world.
Grace is there ready to help us live our live with
love every single day.
What are you going to do when you wake up tomorrow
morning? Are you going to shove this gift aside and struggle to make it on your
own? Or are you going to thank God for this precious gift, take it in your
hands, and place it joyfully into your soul?
Joseph J. Mazzella joemazzella@frontier.com
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.