It's almost seven years ago now that student friend, Fienie, invited me to come and share with the women at Kaapsche Hoop. And what an adventure it was!
First the domestic flight from PE, via Johannesburg, to Nelspruit. The arrival hall left no doubt that I was close to Big Five Country – Kruger National Park was just a stone's throw away and the safari sentiment was visible everywhere I looked.
(Now that we live abroad, we take far fewer things for granted, and we now understand the fascination with the Greats of Africa a little better.)
The accommodation was beautiful and the whole village felt like a little doll’s house. It wasn’t long before the wild horses came to sniff out their new guests and this was just as special as it sounds!
Throughout the weekend there was laughter and crying and singing and setting things alight (literally) and finally we each got a little something to take home that Fien had chosen with great care.
Mine included the most beautiful teal coloured coffee mug with the word GRACE on the front.
Just as it says on my ring finger.
That cup would remain in its box for another two years, but when packing started for our big move abroad, I decided - this one had to come!
It’s actually only quite recently that I took that mug out and to the office.
Sometimes it would provoke a comment and I caught myself frequently positioning the empty cup in such a way that approaching traffic could read the promise: GRACE.
Not so long ago, however, there was a scramble at work, and before I could catch it, the mug landed on the ground, porcelain splints going everywhere.
My heart wanted to break too! It sounds silly, I know, but for me it was a very special, daily reminder.
Bending down to clean up the mess, I could see that it was only the ear that was in pieces. The cup itself remained intact.
And then the Lord gave me this message:
All is not lost.
It may just be my grip on His grace that has lost its place. While I was scrambling.
His grace itself?
It hasn't changed.
There are no shards in His grace that can hurt my insides.
There are no cracks in His grace where it can leak out and trickle away uselessly.
It's still made with one purpose in mind.
All it asks is that I change my grip,
open both my hands to receive it.
"He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions.
He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God,
sure that God would make good on what He had said.”
Rom 4:20 The Message
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