Message of Grace

Last night my family and I went to Lake Charles. We spent some time just enjoying each other. It was getting late and the girls were hungry so we went to grab a bit. Everything seemed to be going fine. We got a seat fairly quickly and then everything just seemed to go downhill after that. It took forever to get someone to wait on us, then drinks, and then the food. It was already late and we were tired, my daughter kept saying how she was "starving," yeah right! It just seemed to be taking forever. If you are like me, you have a certain time expectation. (Not saying that is good) Once that is reached you start to get... well you know. We had reached that point! We had just asked about the food and had determined if it was not one the table in another ten minutes we were leaving. It had already been an hour, I know right. Just about that time the food comes out short my oldest daughter's. Who was the one saying she was "starving!" So we sat waiting. By this time the manager comes out to check on us and expressed his dissatifaction in how we were being served.
So we finally got her food. What Nicole observed was how the waitress was actually in the back pleading our case.
To make a long story short, everyone got fed. The waitress did everything she could and at the end of the day it didn't matter if we waited.

God really spoke to my heart about this situation. You know, we don't always do everything we are suppose to do either. We are late, we don't serve like we should, and the list goes on. Yet God always forgives us. Not only does He forgive but He lavishes us with grace and mercy too.

So, we were getting ready to leave and the waitress came by and appologized for how the night went and I looked at her and told her it was not a big deal and that she did a great job. It was amazing because you could literally see the stress leave her. Wow, how powerful is forgiveness that it can change someone's countenance.
As we were leaving I asked Nicole for a pen and I took a piece of paper and wrote a note to the young lady thanking her for the great job she did. On top of the note we left a twenty dollar tip.
We had every human reason not to leave anything, but God had shown me how grace works and how He goes beyond grace and gives a ridiculous amount of mercy on top of that. Even though we don't deserve it. You see what we were waiting on was NOT the food; we were waiting on God to accomplish His work in this young ladies life. We were waiting on God!

Listen, this is not about us. We don't know her and she does not know us, but maybe the message of grace overwhelmed her last night like it continues to do in my life. Against all odds, grace wins!
I was humbled by this experience. I was reminded about forgiveness and grace and was allowed to participate in it's work. Isn't that the gospel?

I challenge you, be aware of your surroundings. Look at every moment as a chance to live the gospel. Look for God in times that upset you and cause you to get frustrated. Look at them through God's eyes. See yourself in that situation and be the living gospel.