God's Grace

Sometimes I think about my life and how much I have and I am completely overwhelmed. 

Like stunned, 

without words, 

beyond belief, 

completely amazemed at what God has given me. 

Why me? Why did he see fit to have me be born in American versus somewhere in the Middle East where you get killed for loving Jesus? Why did I get to be raised in a solid family? Why did I get to have parents who taught me how to work hard? Why did He choose to overwhelm me with His grace?

I live near a large trailer park and a few weeks ago I went to meet a couple of my neighbors, the ones not really in that big establishment. Since we'd lived here for quite a number of months and I'd mostly only met my neighbors to the one side of us, I decided that it was time. 

I crossed the patch of poison ivy dividing our place and the shared driveway that goes to three homes and headed over to where I could hear them all having a cookout. 

And I came home. totally. unsure. of. why. God. picked. me. 

The one neighbor was stoned. Another had no teeth. Another was mentally retarded. Another had lived with her parents since her children were babies and they are now in high school. One was mad at the other neighbor because he came over and drank all of her beer. And they all were incredibly loyal and close knit, like their own little family even though none of them are related. And they wanted me to stay for the cookout. And I stood there completely unsure of what to say. 

My first thoughts were that they all need Jesus. I mean obviously - look at their lives! 

Then I walked home and thought about it more. Would being saved automatically make you feel like getting a dumpster and cleaning up around your doorstep? Would it make you get new teeth?

Maybe they already know Him. I didn't ask. And what makes them need Jesus more than the guy up the road who lives in a beautiful home and who mows his lawn twice a week? If I got invited into his home, would my first thought continue to blatantly blare in my mind through the whole visit: "This guy needs Jesus, this guy needs Jesus...."

Why do I automatically classify people? Jesus loves the "least". 

I do want to know how, but I am clueless. 

Our lives have nothing in common and I didn't wish to stay for the cookout. 

Later I was telling a friend and she quietly reminded me of the fact that "to whom much is given, much is required" (Luke 12:48). 

It's absolutely what I needed to take home from that. 

I have parents who loved me enough to teach me to work, to live, to have morals....

I got an education while getting to avoid the whole high school drama in which so many public school teenagers get to be involved.

I got to grow up in an environment where God was the most important. 

I am an incredibly healthy person at this point in my life and I can do lots of things because I am not slowed down by health concerns. 

And I am able to buy quality food that is so much better for my health than canned raviolis. 

I have a husband who doesn't dump me just because I don't measure up to what a wife should be most days. 

I have four parents and eight grandparents- all of whom are believers. That makes me a third generation Christian. Which means that it's easier for me to figure out what it means to live for God and learn how to live for God as an adult. Which means that I don't have to deal with parents not understanding why I live my whole life the way I do. (Well maybe they do[ha! :)], but it's not about the core stuff quite the same!)

I have a whole wealth of friends, from all walks in life, many of whom know God personally too. 

I have lots of really awesome relationships with these really awesome people.

I. am. so. thankful. 

Much has been given to me.

What have you been given?