God blesses us with his grace

“Grace be with you all.”

— 2 Timothy 2:1 (NIV)

You are ready to sit down to your Thanksgiving dinner when a family member says, “Let’s say grace.” So, everyone folds their hands and bows their heads while they say a prayer of thanks.

But grace is actually more than saying a thankful prayer. Grace is something too wonderful to express. It’s rooted in God’s deep and enduring love for humanity. Grace isn’t something we do, or deserve.

One example is how God’s grace sent Jesus to pay the price for our sin. And God’s grace extends to various other aspects of our lives.

We often take our skills, abilities and talents for granted. Sometimes they come so natural to us, that others notice them before we do.

In my nursing career, I had no desire to become a manager or leader. But one day, my boss told me he thought I should apply to be a manager, even though it meant leaving the unit I presently worked on.

After giving it some prayer and thought, I decided it couldn’t hurt. By God’s grace I entered into the career field of leadership and, over time, I realized it was a good fit for me.

I now use my leadership gift to instruct and inspire others in the faith.

I have noticed that God graces us simply to bless us. My sister has a special grace for finding bargains. She can come across some of the most amazing deals that can make you green with envy.

And God’s grace also empowers us to endure suffering. When the apostle Paul went through a hardship that he referred to as “a thorn in his flesh,” he asked God to rescue him from it.

God replied that he wouldn’t, but that his grace would help Paul through it. Paul had such an understanding of God’s grace that he spoke of the topic more than any other Bible writer. I think when we face hard times, we should ask God to extend more grace to help us.

This year, it’s my Thanksgiving prayer that God shower you with an abundance of grace, my friends.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author of the book “Letters To A Friend,” speaker, life and writing coach and nurse. She can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com.