The Gift of Grace

During one of the most liberating and alternately devastating times of my life, I told my new friend Richard that I felt that God did not love me anymore.

Richard's response was to hug me and speak this phrase softly in my ear.  "Of course God loves you, Jenny."

And even though I had been going to church nearly every Sunday of my life, for the first time, I really believed that truth.

That statement helped to restore me to a state of grace that I felt had been irrevocably lost.

In fact, it was the nicest, most empowering thing anyone has ever said to me.  The effect of it is still working in my life on a daily basis.

And sometimes relationships are complicated.  Sometimes we can end up saying things that hurt.  Sometimes it's difficult to find a true place of forgiveness in our hearts.  It's difficult until we remember that the person we love and who loves us has said hundreds of other kind, loving things in the past.

Valentine's day is on the horizon.

And instead of worrying about what kind of material gift I could come up with for Richard, I'm going to focus on remembering all of the loving things he's said and done for me.

This week I've posted a Valentine house in the shop with a sample poem that reads:

"In your light I learn how to love.
In you beauty, how to make poems.
You dance inside my chest,
Where no one sees you,
But sometimes I do,
And that sight becomes this art." --Rumi