Amazing Grace. Here, I am not referencing the awesome song Amazing Grace, but rather a perfume that I recently encountered. I took an unexpected trip home and found that my mom has a perfume called "Amazing Grace." Of course, the first thing I think about is the passage above (and how awesome of a Sermon illustration this would be)... except the passage doesn't explicitly name grace as one of the things to clothe yourself with. I think it should. Not only does this wonderfully-smelling spray give you a literal way to clothe yourself in grace, it also gives a somewhat motivational definition on the box:
Grace is compassion, gratitude, surrender, faith, kindness, reverence, and the list goes on.
It's something money can't buy and credentials rarely produce.
Being the smartest the prettiest, the most talented, the richest, or even the poorest can't help.
Being a humble person can;
and a helpful person can guide you through your days with grace and gratitude.
So, in the morning when you put on perfume or cologne, I encourage you to also put on some grace. Grace is something you receive (spray on yourself), but it should also be something that others benefit from (pleasant smell). Regardless of perceived merit or worth, treat others better than you would want to be treated.
Book of Wisdom. As some of you may already know, the Protestant canon differs from the Catholic canon. In the Catholic canon, there is a book entitled The Book of Wisdom, and it's somewhat comparable to Proverbs. Well, I had to read this little excerpt:
The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die; and their departure was taken for misery. And their going away from us, utter destruction, but they are in peace. And though in the sight of men, they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality. Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be rewarded; because God has tried them, and found them worthy of himself.
It is quite insightful, and if I have time this summer, I may read some of what the Protestants consider non-canonical works. We'll have to see!
Summer is quickly approaching, woo hoo! I can't wait. I'll be working at a clinic in NE PA, coaching/ reffing/ and playing hockey, and helping out at a local church! It should be a fun fun fun summer! I hope that all of your summers are looking to be quite fantastic as well! Peace be with you! =)
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