Through The Front Picture Window

James, William called Specks, Charles, and John Fought in the"Great War" and now are gone Two in the Army, a Paratrooper and a Marine All four came home from places where life was brutal in the extreme Four families were raised, some close some farther away The war was rarely if ever spoken about at home in those bygone days My father was James, and only in his last months here on earth Did he speak about the beach where men died with eyes open wide while on their rifles they were perched War heroes die on the battlefield every day Some here in our streets and some in countries far away War on crime or war overseas There are people in uniform protecting you and me James and his brothers are just a handful of men That served their country when it needed them So I put out four flags every Memorial Day A small salute for a debt that can't be repaid

Returning home from my weekly women's breakfast and what do I see? A heating and plumbing truck blocking my driveway and it wasn't for me! I honked my horn and waited patiently As it finally  moved out of the way and I was free To pull into my driveway and I hoped they'd stay away but it wasn't to be. When I came out an hour later to go shopping my driveway again wasn't clear and free. The same truck was blocking it and this time they almost wouldn't move for me. I expressed my displeasure at where they chose to be and, If they did it again I would cause trouble, believe you me! Upon my return they were nowhere that I could see. The end of my driveway was clear and free. That made a much more relaxed and happier me.

In layman's  terms, grace is an undeserved kindness bestowed on someone. An example of this could be drivers allowing you to cut across two lanes in rush hour traffic so you can make your left turn without blowing their horns at you. It can also be, replacing your surly child's iPod shuffle, if in fact you were the one who lost it, or even worse, someone at school damaged it.    If God can extend grace to us after the way we treated and continue to treat His Son, then we need to do so to others in our life.  I'm not saying be open to violence and abuse. What I am saying, is you don't know why some people are acting stupidly, as in the driving situation, or angrily as in the iPod situation. Give people a break and be gracious to them. I know that sometimes graciousness is the best revenge, but your motive should always be to do it because it's the right thing to do.     Hurting people tend to try to pass that hurt onto others. Sometimes being gra...