Seek Grace

I was reading in preparation for the small group meeting tonight and I found a chapter on the Ignatius Exercises. My friend Dave has done the Ignatius Exercises with a spiritual director. It is amazing the personal growth and valuable insights he has experienced. We have had some awesome discussions of his experience and mine with my own prayer experiences. Today once more I have been reading some of Marsha's journal entries. She would read scripture every morning and write a note to God about what she thought he wanted her to know. Every morning it started "Good morning God". She sometimes mentioned people from her life, even me, but it was never about them or me, but only about what God was telling her to be or do in relation to us. She was seeking grace to live more and more as God wanted her to live. I find from time to time that reading her journals reminds me of the person she was. I don't know how I could forget after all those years, but the mind dims and our attention gets drawn away to one thing or another. It is not wrong that my life has moved in one way or another, that is just what happens. However, whatever happens I don't want to forget the amazing woman that God gave me for all those years. My present years may be important in God's plan for me and for others, but I do not ever want to lose the love and appreciation I have for God because of the  love for me He expressed in the gift of Marsha. I seek grace as well on a daily basis. I can't imagine living without it. I've said to my small group and others that one source of God's grace for me was always Marsha. God spoke through her voice so often that I learned to pay attention when she spoke. I've found no replacement for that role she played in my life. When we married I would never have thought that Marsha was going to be grace for me, I wouldn't even have thought that grace existed. Isn't life funny and amazing when God is in charge.