Grace Alley

There is a stretch of road near my home that I learned a valuable lesson on one day and I would like to share it with you. I have come to call that stretch "Grace Alley". For a brief moment it is three lanes of highway and then a sign alerts you that the far right lane ends. You must merge. Done correctly, it goes very smooth. However, so many people feel they are entitled to be in that lane and the rest of us are to simply slow down or even stop to allow them in. Doesn't matter we sat at the same red light, saw the same sign they saw, or that we have places to go as well. Those of us in the two lanes are where we are suppose to be. The far right lane is basically for turning purposes, but if you so desire to stay straight you must merge.

Well, this has caused many frustrating moments for me as people fly up past me as though I am going slow and that they are able to stay in that lane. Once they go several yards, they suddenly realize they need to now have me let them in. I have had horns blow, hands wave and simply just been cut off.

One day, the usual was happening and I had decided not today. They were going to have to wait their turn. They didn't deserve to be in my lane, they didn't follow the directions that were nicely posted for them. Not my problem, but theirs. It wasn't fair. Then that still small voice spoke directly into my spirit that couldn't be missed, "Sue, that is what grace looks like". My face flushed red, at the thought of it. All those weeks, that I became frustrated and even angry at times that they ignored the signs, was actually how God could feel about me when I chose to do my own thing. Even though His Word tells me how to live and what He commands I still felt entitled, to do things my way. I had places to go, people to see, I didn't have time to always read His Word or listen to his voice during prayer. I deserved to have the consequences that came with my choices. I had the warning signs, I knew I wasn't suppose to do those things, yet He chooses grace.

You see, everyday He gives me things I don't deserve. Not only that, but He loves me. Did I love those people in traffic?! I decided right then that I would look at that stretch of road differently from then on. I am given grace everyday. I can at least extend grace to those around me. They don't deserve it, but that is the mystery of grace, getting what we don't deserve and nothing in return is expected.

As Easter nears this week, I am reminded even more that Christ paid a price I could NEVER pay. I don't deserve to have breath in my lungs, let along a place in Heaven for all of eternity. I will fail everyday. I was born with a sinful nature. I have to choose to do what is right. Thinking of myself comes easily. But then grace comes in and reminds us, we sometimes need to give people what they don't deserve. Christ didn't deserve to die a criminal's death, he didn't deserve to be spit on, he didn't deserve to be treated the way he was treated, yet he did it all for you and me. To give us what we don't deserve, eternity with him.

There is so much more I could say on grace, it would take weeks to type out. Maybe future blogs will be devoted to grace.  But in that short drive to my house, I was reminded first hand how much I am given that I never deserve. Now when I drive "Grace Alley", I look for cars to let in front of me. I almost never get a wave of thanks, but instead a of look of entitlement. I just smile, because to me, it means so much more now. I can't even get mad or frustrated. It is a lesson I hope to never forget. Where is your "Grace Alley"?