It is a deep sorrow of my life to know that I have lived for almost sixty years and it is only within the past 5-6 years that I have begun to understand the extreme value of a life filled with grace. When I think of all that has issued from my heart and mouth, and how often it has been so totally lacking in grace, I am ashamed and saddened beyond telling. Sixty years...and just now learning.
God has brought people into my life over the years to exhibit both grace-filled lives and those that are ungracious and condemnatory. When I think of generosity of grace I always think first of Stan and Simone. Theirs were lives filled with an overwhelming fragrance of grace and mercy. They knew God. They knew their own failings. They knew the mercy that God bestows on His own. They poured out grace on everyone they came in contact with and some of those were quite unsavory characters. They loved. They loved. They loved. Stan never minced words about God's punishment for sinners, but rather than coming to Christ to avoid hell one wanted to come to Christ because of His great love for His sheep. And Stan and Simone were gentle shepherds that loved their sheep. They were not unaware of the stubborness, willfulness and stupidity of the sheep, but the sheep were so loved and cared for by S & S that they wanted to do better and be better to please both the shepherds and the Great Shepherd.
I want to be like that. I want to pour out grace on all I meet so that they will see the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Stan has gone home to be with Jesus and Simone lives far away from me, but the impact they had on my life never lessens. In fact, as I grow older I am more cognizant of the great spiritual heritage they bequethed to me by their undying love, mercy and grace.
Only eternity will fully reveal the importance of their lives to mine and, more importantly, to the Kingdom of God .
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