When my girls were small, I always got a little nervous around time for their birthday parties or Christmas. Before each event, I’d have discussions with them about how to open their gifts and say Thank you to the gift giver before moving on to opening the next gift. I wanted them to learn the importance of being grateful for the gifts they were given. I wanted them to understand that the person giving the gift had selected it especially for them, and it was important to acknowledge that.

I remember one Christmas day on which I was given a gift, and I didn’t respond with any of the gratefulness I’d wanted to teach my children. I was selfish and didn’t even consider the intention of the gift giver. I treated the gift and the giver as if they didn’t matter. I’m embarrassed even now to remember my attitude that day, as well as the days that followed.

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I had a discussion about grace with a fellow writer yesterday. We were discussing the post I wrote last week on whether grace is an excuse to sin. The conversation progressed to a book he is reading in which the author discusses cheapening grace. I asked if something that is free can be cheapened. He explained that while grace is freely given to us, it cost the Giver something: His Son…His life. He went on to explain that we can treat grace as if it cost God nothing. Then he said something I had to write down: We should receive the {grace} gift properly…the same way we would receive a valuable gift.

The depth of grace I know and have experienced is truly inexplicable. And I know others who have experienced it in even deeper ways than I. And each of us can say that we view grace as a valuable, precious gift. But today, I thought about the times I haven’t received grace as such. The times I’ve taken it for granted. The times I’ve ignored it, and chosen to live in self-condemnation.

What overwhelms me is that there’s grace even for those times…the times I’ve taken it for granted, the times I’ve ignored it, the times I’ve been selfish and haven’t considered what it cost the Giver. You see…grace never runs out. It just multiplies. It’s a never-ending gift from the One who calls me beloved. It’s a bit like supply and demand. The more I need it, the more He supplies, which makes me realize the value of it. So, so precious.

I was reminded yesterday to always give thanks for the gift of grace…to receive it properly. And for those times I forget or neglect to do so, I’ll thank God there’s grace for that too.

I’m thankful for the Giver that keeps giving.