I tell people the main reason we live in Texas is for the mild winter. Currently there is a massive blizzard in the North, and today in Texas we will enjoy 60* temps and some outside play in the sunshine. I love the sunshine. I never get enough of it, but that is a different story.
As you can imagine, when winter does come to Texas it causes a bit of upheaval. Without adequate sand machines (I don't know technical name) and snow plows, the city in which we live shuts down and we stay inside and wait for the Texas heat to melt it away. At least, that's the plan when you stay at home, or you are already at home when the storm hits.
That was not the case during the last terrible ice storm in North Texas. We had just returned from a trip and needed to get home. Roads were iced over, traffic stopped for hours and travel nearly impossible. We were only 2 hrs away but were stopped in gridlock along with hundreds of other cars for hours. There were police traveling on 4 wheelers and handing out water and gasoline as there were hundreds of people stranded in their cars on blocked roads with no where to go.
We exited the freeway the first chance we got. Not that it lead anywhere, but it was closer to gas, water and even lodging, which is far better than sleeping in our car on the highway with un-known strangers. Back roads were not better, but at least there was no traffic. So although the roads were still covered in ice, no one was blocking our way to pass.
Slowly and and ever so slowly, we pushed forward. I think we could have walked faster than we traveled. Although walking in that weather would not have been very comfortable. After multiple starts and stops we made it back to the freeway. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw then. I was hoping to see moving traffic along the road home, what we saw was pristine ice on a major roadway. Not one car, not one truck, just us on 2 inches of perfect ice. It was like driving on an ice rink, but without a zamboni.
As delicately and carefully as we could, we moved forward slowly, keeping the wheel straight as to not skid out. I am not sure what was behind us to impede the traffic but we were alone on ice. It felt very unsettling, like were exploring new undiscovered territory. A short time later a large pick-up truck came flying past us! Like we were standing still this truck flew by going 90+ mph on ICE!
Astonished, I thought to myself, "Serves him right, if he crashes!" I imagined that truck had four-wheel drive, but that does not prevent it from sliding into a ditch. It might get you out of a ditch, but it might not. Fool-hearty and reckless, relying on a false safety mechanism it drove like there was no danger at all. The mom in me wanted to scold the driver of the truck for even being out on a day like this.
As I sat in judgement of the speeding truck, I realized.....that's me! Speeding off on my own believing I have security when I only have an illusion. I put trust in a bank account number. I put trust in a job in which I am of some importance. I trust a relationship to be solid, an insurance plan to protect me, my health and wellness and I feel safe. And yet, in a blink of an eye, I slip on ice and slide out of control. The job is lost, the relationship ends, the money dries up, and where am I left? I am left on the side of the road with no way to move forward. Broken and stuck. And that is where Grace and Mercy show up. The come from the only one that can be trusted.
Mercy can be defined as NOT getting what you deserve. Reckless high speed driving on iced roads leads to (and deserves) an accident, a spin out or at least a good scare. Then having to walk in the cold to find a phone and/or a tow truck. Mercy would not only help a distressed driver, mercy would help prevent the accident from happening.
Grace can be defined as receiving what you do not deserve. Grace would help pull the stranded vehicle from where it stuck and carry them home. After such reckless behavior, do they deserve such treatment? The answer is no, but that is what Grace does.
Grace does not leave me by the side of the metaphorical road of life stranded, dismayed and no way to move forward. Mercy sets my feet on the rock of a solid foundation. The foundation that my worth is based on what God says about me and not a job, a relationship or a number in a bank account.
Dearest Gigi nothing in THIS world is sure, no job, no marriage, or amount of money will give you the security and peace we all so desperately crave. Only Jesus. Put your heart and trust in HIM. Find peace and comfort in the one that knows you best. It will save you many a sleepless night and keep you on the road and out of a ditch.
Scripture that helped me:
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire: he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. Psalms 40:1-3
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matt 11:28
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matt 24:35
That was not the case during the last terrible ice storm in North Texas. We had just returned from a trip and needed to get home. Roads were iced over, traffic stopped for hours and travel nearly impossible. We were only 2 hrs away but were stopped in gridlock along with hundreds of other cars for hours. There were police traveling on 4 wheelers and handing out water and gasoline as there were hundreds of people stranded in their cars on blocked roads with no where to go.
We exited the freeway the first chance we got. Not that it lead anywhere, but it was closer to gas, water and even lodging, which is far better than sleeping in our car on the highway with un-known strangers. Back roads were not better, but at least there was no traffic. So although the roads were still covered in ice, no one was blocking our way to pass.
Slowly and and ever so slowly, we pushed forward. I think we could have walked faster than we traveled. Although walking in that weather would not have been very comfortable. After multiple starts and stops we made it back to the freeway. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw then. I was hoping to see moving traffic along the road home, what we saw was pristine ice on a major roadway. Not one car, not one truck, just us on 2 inches of perfect ice. It was like driving on an ice rink, but without a zamboni.
As delicately and carefully as we could, we moved forward slowly, keeping the wheel straight as to not skid out. I am not sure what was behind us to impede the traffic but we were alone on ice. It felt very unsettling, like were exploring new undiscovered territory. A short time later a large pick-up truck came flying past us! Like we were standing still this truck flew by going 90+ mph on ICE!
Astonished, I thought to myself, "Serves him right, if he crashes!" I imagined that truck had four-wheel drive, but that does not prevent it from sliding into a ditch. It might get you out of a ditch, but it might not. Fool-hearty and reckless, relying on a false safety mechanism it drove like there was no danger at all. The mom in me wanted to scold the driver of the truck for even being out on a day like this.
As I sat in judgement of the speeding truck, I realized.....that's me! Speeding off on my own believing I have security when I only have an illusion. I put trust in a bank account number. I put trust in a job in which I am of some importance. I trust a relationship to be solid, an insurance plan to protect me, my health and wellness and I feel safe. And yet, in a blink of an eye, I slip on ice and slide out of control. The job is lost, the relationship ends, the money dries up, and where am I left? I am left on the side of the road with no way to move forward. Broken and stuck. And that is where Grace and Mercy show up. The come from the only one that can be trusted.
Mercy can be defined as NOT getting what you deserve. Reckless high speed driving on iced roads leads to (and deserves) an accident, a spin out or at least a good scare. Then having to walk in the cold to find a phone and/or a tow truck. Mercy would not only help a distressed driver, mercy would help prevent the accident from happening.
Grace can be defined as receiving what you do not deserve. Grace would help pull the stranded vehicle from where it stuck and carry them home. After such reckless behavior, do they deserve such treatment? The answer is no, but that is what Grace does.
Grace does not leave me by the side of the metaphorical road of life stranded, dismayed and no way to move forward. Mercy sets my feet on the rock of a solid foundation. The foundation that my worth is based on what God says about me and not a job, a relationship or a number in a bank account.
Dearest Gigi nothing in THIS world is sure, no job, no marriage, or amount of money will give you the security and peace we all so desperately crave. Only Jesus. Put your heart and trust in HIM. Find peace and comfort in the one that knows you best. It will save you many a sleepless night and keep you on the road and out of a ditch.
Scripture that helped me:
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire: he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. Psalms 40:1-3
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matt 11:28
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matt 24:35
