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But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:24 (ESV)

His tender love

It sneaks up on you; the recognition that once again God is showing His tender love for you. My dear sisters, this journey is so difficult, please allow me to encourage you today by sharing a sweet story of how God has shown His personal love and grace to me during this journey.

When my oldest daughter Jen married in 2009, my husband and I were elated because we had dreamed of the day we would get to share the joy of being grandparents with little ones running around. When my husband was killed in September 2011, that dream died with him. Being a grandparent with my husband was a very precious dream to me because my first marriage had ended in divorce when my daughters were just 5 and 2 years old. God’s plan was different than mine, but He knew and cared about the desires of my heart.

Becoming a grandparent

On May 13, 2012, eight months after my husband’s death, we celebrated my first Mother’s Day without my sweet husband. Both of my daughters came into town to spend the weekend with me. As we were having breakfast that morning, I awkwardly tried to lighten the mood by teasing my oldest daughter; “I would have thought you would have tried to make it a great Mother’s Day by telling me you’re pregnant”. We all laughed and headed off to church.

During the church service, my daughter started feeling nauseous and began doing some math in her head. On the way home from church she stopped and bought a pregnancy test and then quickly came to show me the results. None of us could believe it! How truly special for all of us to find out on that Mother’s Day that we would soon have a new little one to love and cherish! But the story of God’s grace doesn’t end there…

His abundant grace

One day, during my daughter’s pregnancy, I was looking for some paperwork to deal with some of the legal issues that arose from my husband’s death. I had given up trying to find it and then finally decided to look in one last place – the cabinet beside his bed, which I had not been in since his death.

When I opened his cabinet, there to my amazement was a Texas A&M onesie, size 6-12 months. Both of my daughters went to Texas A&M and as the saying goes- they bleed maroon. They are avid fans, to say the least! So how is it that my husband bought a Texas A&M onesie (that fit perfectly during football season this year) two years before it was needed?

My husband was notorious for being a last-minute shopper. How did I find it at just the right time? All I can attribute it to is God’s grace! God knew the desire of my heart to share being a grandparent with my husband. He knew the absolute joy I would receive by seeing my precious grandson Riley in the onesie his grandpa bought him! God also knew it would bring me great joy to testify to the gospel of His Grace and for that, I am most grateful!

Let us complete the race set before us- all the while testifying about His Grace!

Dear heavenly Father, You are such a loving God! Thank You for being with us each step of the way. Thank You for showering us with Your Grace and love, many times when we least expect it. Please comfort them and encourage them in a mighty way! Help us Father to complete the race, testifying about Your Grace, for Your Glory!

In Your Son’s Holy and Precious name, Amen.