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Today's Christian, March/April 1999
Once in awhile God extends grace to us for no apparent reason.
Sometimes there is no way to explain an event, except to say, "It was grace, pure and simple. Nothing deserved. Just something God delighted to do for me." Once in awhile, it happens that way.
I have that feeling today as I stand outside our apartment complex in Kihung, South Korea, with a bleeding finger.
It happened almost an hour ago as I was opening a can of Mandarin oranges. I try to stop the bleeding but to no avail. The only person I know who speaks English is one of the guards at the front gatehouse. When I show him my finger, he shakes his head gravely and says, "Hospital."
But the guard lives an hour away; he has no idea where to find a local hospital. The only person who does know is an elevator repair man who happens to be working on our elevator this very afternoon. He tells the guard (in Korean)
he will direct me to the hospital if we provide transportation. There isn't a car or truck in sight. So, the guard phones for a taxi.
Suddenly, I realize I'm about to get in a car with an unknown driver and an elevator repair man and go to an unknown hospital to have my finger sewn back together. At this point, I utter the longings of my heart: If only Mark
(my husband) would come.
Within minutes, Mark is here with our dinner guests, one of whom happens to be a nurse.
Several hours later, after visiting the hospital and with my finger neatly stitched, we sit down to dinner with our guests. Mark says grace. And this time, it is truly grace.
Once in awhile in our stumblings at life, God reaches down, just at the time we need him most, and extends grace to us, for no apparent reason. Except that he is God. And every now and then he delights to remind us. Maybe so that the next time things don't go as smoothly, we'll still remember he is God.
Ruth Senter has written 11 books, has two grown kids, and travels with her husband, a seminary educator.
Copyright © 1999 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine (formerly Christian Reader).
Click here for reprint information.
March/April 1999, Vol. 37, No. 2, Page 96
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