He wanted, like I knew his eight year old boy heart would, to go the water. There was no going to the beach on a sunny but cool day, and not going to the water and allowing the waves to kiss our brown skin. He knew this and proclaimed this to me an his momma. His momma was far too cold in the morning air and so when he glanced at me, I smiled and agreed to walk to the water with him.
We held hands and he chatted excitedly, watching the waves roar and roll. “It’s going to be cold, “ I told him. “Brace yourself.” He squeezed my hand harder and the wave came, cold, strong, glorious, and we smiled wide and howled with laughter. With his nudging we went closer to the water, the waves coming up higher, and for a few moments I release his beautiful brown hand so he could scoop up the water before it receded. As the waves got bigger and higher, he grabbed my hand again and we stood in awe of the ocean.
As we stood there, I couldn’t help but think that this, this is the gift of grit and grace. As we move toward that which calls us, which we know is part of all that God in His goodness has for us, with grit, grace stands with us, ensuring that we not only make it, but that we survive it, that we are not overcome, overwhelmed, drowned, and certainly not alone.
Grit won’t let us settle. Rest and reset, certainly. Pause, process, change pace, and continue to progress, absolutely. Have a whole melt down, leave all of our “big girl panties” in the hamper, pout, shout, and then move it all about, mhmm, yup, also okay. But it won’t let us stop altogether. It will propel us toward that which grace has for us. It will not settle for the shore but will move toward the water. As it moves us toward the water, it will remind us we are not alone and we will not be undone. Grace is there and completely aware of that which is before us. Grace is completely cognizant of when it is safe to let us immerse in that which we have been created for. It knows when to grab our hand again when we may not be ready for the next wave, season, circumstance, loss, heartache, disappointment, and will stand with us until we are. And even then, it is still present. Grace remains.
We walked back to my sister who was cozy and settled under the beach umbrella, telling her how cold yet beautiful the water was. My nephew tried to convince his momma to go down with him to the water in that moment, she said no. However, before we packed up to call it a day, she did eventually go with him.
Grace has a way of overflowing, of calling out the grit and grace in others so that they too may experience all that God in His goodness has for them.
My hope for you this week is that you keep moving toward that which you have been called and created for. That you don’t get close and settle. That you don’t get close and get distracted. That you don’t get close and weary, appreciating the view of what could be or perhaps stuck in the sands of shame of what you felt should be if only_____________. My hope is that you grit it out knowing grace has you by the hand. Grace sees what is ahead of you and sees you. God sees what is ahead of you and God sees you. That you know grace will not hamper you nor will it carelessly toss you to the ocean of life. God will not stifle you nor will he put you in any circumstance for which through His grace he has not fully equipped you and will not remain faithful to his promise of absolute provision. Grace has you covered, grace has your hand, walk to the water.
With Love,
Grit + Grace