Grace…Received and Shared!

Victoria Ruvolo had a harrowing experience in November of 2004. She was on her way home to Long Island from her niece’s recital in NYC when an 18- year-old boy threw a frozen turkey at her windshield. The twenty-pound bird crashed through the glass, bent the steering wheel inward and shattered her face like a dinner plate on concrete. The violent prank left her grappling for life in the ICU. She survived, but only after doctors wired her jaw, affixed one eye by synthetic film, and bolted titanium plates to her skull.

 Nine months later, Victoria stood face to titanium-bolted face with her offender in court. Ryan Cushing was no longer the cocky, turkey-tossing kid. He was trembling, tearful, and apologetic. For NYC, he had come to symbolize a generation of kids out of control. The judge’s sentence enraged them—only 6 months behind bars, 5 years’ probation, some counseling, and public service.

 The courtroom was incensed and erupted in anger! Everyone objected. Everyone, that is, except Victoria. The reduced sentence was her idea. The boy walked over, and she embraced him. In full view of the judge and the crowd, she held him tight, stroked his hair. He sobbed, and she spoke: “I forgive you. I want your life to be the best it can be.”

Max Lucado, GRACE, p55ff

 The Apostle Paul had this to say about how we respond to those who wrong us:

 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.                                                                     

Colossians 3.12-13

 Jesus, when He was teaching His disciples to pray, said for us to pray like this: “…forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.”

And He went on to say,

 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Matthew 6.12, 14-15

 Think about how much God in Christ has forgiven you…as Lucado says, “If grace were a wheat field, He’s bequeathed you the state of Kansas. Can’t you share your grace with others?”