There are times when “dying a million deaths” doesn’t nearly de-
scribe it! I felt so wretched I could hardly breathe. My teacher was
still at her desk, grading papers. When she saw me, she held out her
hand. The distance between the door of my classroom and my
teacher’s desk seemed like a million miles. With my head hung
down, I walked it.
“I’m the one who took your rock, and I’m so sorry,” I confessed. I
silently waited for the reprimand I knew I deserved. But it never came.
Her grace met my confession and I found myself bathed in forgiveness.
Instead of scolding me she did something I will never forget. She
opened her arms to me and enfolded me in them. Then she took my
hand and told my mom that we would be right back. Hand in hand
we walked to the school’s little supply room where we found the jan-
itor, Mr. Pete.
“Pete,” she said, “I want Claire to have a little piece of this rock to
keep. Do you think you could chip one off for her?”
“I think I can do that,” he said. And that’s exactly what he did.
Over the years that crystal pink rock has been like a little chip of
God’s grace. Like my Savior’s love, it is a gift I didn’t deserve from a
friend of whom I was not worthy.
Perhaps there is an incident of grace in your own life that still
glows like a candle on a dark night. Thank the Lord for it and never
let it go out. Instead spread that flame from heart to heart until many
walk in the light of his gracious love.
Oh, Father, make my life a testimony of the grace you show me in
daily ways. Thank you for the ultimate gift of grace that continually
flows into my life through the shed blood of your Son. I pray this
prayer in his name, amen.101 MOST POWERFUL PRAYERS IN THE BI BLE 19