Amazing Grace

More than ten years ago my husband Morley and I were visiting our son Christopher in New Orleans. Since it was the American Thanksgiving weekend, there were many events planned. One of them was a Home and Garden tour of some of the historic and beautiful mansions in the Garden District. These massive, stately homes had been built for the wealthy plantation owners.

Both of us wanted to go and see these homes, which had been decorated for the Christmas season. However, the price seemed prohibitive. We were still thinking about purchasing tickets on the morning of the tour. Since our 35th anniversary was less than a month away, we decided that the house tour was the perfect way to celebreate.

We got up bright and early, ate a quick breakfast and walked to the office to buy our tickets. Just as we approached the gate a woman approached us and asked if we had our tickets yet. When we said no she offered us her two tickets. Her friend who had planned to join her had the flu and this lady did not want to go on the tour by herself. We tried to pay her. However, she just smiled at us and said,"No thanks. Just enjoy!"

Her free gracious gift reminds me of God's bountiful grace. We certainly don't deserve the gifts of forgiveness and eternal life. We cannot earn them. Yet, day after day God surprises us with His gifts of grace. He says,"Go and enjoy!" All we have to do is to say "thank you".

Dianne Yungblut

You are reading a series of Women's Faith Stories.