Several years ago some dear friends of mine, Michael and Linda, were out shopping when they realized that their automobile was in need of gasoline. As they drove toward the gas station, they found themselves behind a car driven by an elderly woman. She was going very slowly—much too slowly from Michael's perspective—but there was no place to pass. As a result, Michael drove, albeit somewhat impatiently, behind her. When they came near to the gas station, he thought she might keep going, but, instead, she too turned in to the station. As she ever so slowly approached the pumps, the woman hesitated, apparently unable to decide which side of the pump to pull toward. When she finally made a decision, she, of course, went to the same side that Michael had wanted. Unfortunately, she parked at such an angle and took up so much room that he was left with no choice but to wait for her to finish. The woman got out of her car and walked hesitantly toward the pump. She looked at it, then looked toward her car, then back toward the pump. She was clearly confused. Michael was becoming exasperated and muttered something under his breath about hurrying up. I'll admit that as he shared the story, I could definitely relate to his exasperation. I wanted her to hurry up and I wasn't even there.
"Now, honey, you don't know her situation," said Linda. "Just be patient. We're not really in that much of a hurry, are we?"
"Oh, I suppose not," replied Michael.
"Maybe you should go offer to help her."
Michael looked wide-eyed at his wife, then reluctantly got out of the car. As he approached the woman, who still had not even begun to pump her gas, Michael asked if he could help.
The woman was startled, but as she turned toward him, she had tears in her eyes.
"Oh, yes please… would you?" She hesitated just a moment, and then began crying harder. "My husband… just passed away… and I've never in my life… had to put gas in the car."
In that instant the entire scenario changed. This was no longer a major inconvenience, an obstacle that needed to be overcome. It was now a chance to help someone in need, an opportunity to demonstrate kindness.
As I listened to the story, I wondered how I might have reacted. Would I have blown my cool, repeatedly muttering unkind things under my breath? I am, after all, too frequently impatient. Would I have gone to help the woman? I'd like to think that I would have, but honestly, I don't know for sure.
I have often wondered why I find it so difficult to extend mercy and display grace. Being callous and uncaring almost seems natural to me. Showing kindness and grace is often much more challenging. Is it just me, or do you sometimes struggle in the same way?
The Apostle Paul has often been called the Apostle of Grace. It is no wonder that people would ascribe such a title to him. Every one of his letters recorded in the New Testament begins and ends with grace. Somewhere near the opening and closing of each letter, Paul says something along the lines of "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you." He doesn't do this once or twice. Every single letter—Romans, both Corinthian letters, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, both Thessalonian letters, both letters to Timothy, Titus and Philemon—all of them are the same: grace at the beginning and grace at the end. Everything Paul says in between is surrounded by grace.
Is it possible that you and I could learn from this? I am not suggesting that each time you or I write a letter that we should start and finish by mentioning the grace of God. But perhaps our lives should reflect such mercy and grace more than we normally do.
Would you and I live differently if our lives were surrounded by grace? Would we act differently if we really understood that grace truly is the beginning and the end? Would we be more willing to help someone struggling at the gas pump, would we be more patient with a slow driver, if grace permeated our lives?
Through the pages of this book I hope to paint such a vivid picture of grace and mercy that it will, indeed, affect our daily lives. Like Michael with the elderly woman at the gas station, I pray that we would have sudden moments of awakening where the entire scenario changes. My goal is that we would be shaped into grace—extenders, mercy—givers, even as the Lord has given such amazing mercy and grace to us.