We have officially entered into the holiday season. This time of year can certainly be a mix of emotions and chaos. Before the hustle and bustle takes over, I want to motivate you to take some time to open your eyes to God’s glimmers of grace.
“What are glimmers of grace?” you might ask. My mom first encouraged me to look for God’s “glimmers of grace” back in 2003. At that time, I was struggling big-time. I was still contending with the recent death of my brother (due to a heart condition) as well as the aftermath of months of clerical abuse. In a moment when I was bordering on despair, Mom explained to me that glimmers are small moments sent by God to bring us joy and peace. These gifts are reminders of His presence and can play a huge role in our lives especially as we heal. Like beams of light, they might come and go quickly. However, they remind us that there is hope, joy, and peace even when everything around us feels overwhelming. We have to be willing to open our eyes in order to recognize them.
Because of my mom’s encouragement to open my eyes to these glimmers, my life completely changed. It didn’t happen overnight. Rather, it changed a little at a time – day by day. As I gradually learned to open my eyes to glimmers of grace, I started to recognize the beauty in life. I learned to be more grateful even in the midst of trials. Glimmers positively changed my perspective on so many things!
Grief and Gratitude can Coexist.
Because of God’s glimmers, over the years I have found that grief, gratitude, and beauty can coexist. You can be sad but also smile and laugh. Even if you are suffering deeply, you can still feel happy. Feeling grateful and happy doesn’t mean that you aren’t coping properly or that your grief isn’t real and deep. Thanking God in the midst of suffering may seem contradictory but it’s a game changer. It leads to greater holiness and resilience in ourselves. The positive changes that glimmers of grace cause within us can extend into the world around us too. When you open your eyes to God’s glimmers of grace, you start to recognize the beauty and value of suffering.
My mom’s life-changing advice was what inspired me to write my book, Glimmers of Grace: Moments of Peace and Healing Following Sexual Abuse. It is my hope and prayer that others will benefit from Mom’s life-changing advice. I hope that they, too, can experience the tremendous healing that comes from opening their eyes to the many gifts God wants to give each of us.
Gratitude plays an important role in our lives whether we are healing from traumatic events or not. It’s important to remember that healing and resilience can and do happen in the midst of grief and pain. This only happens when we start to thank God for everything in our lives – the good and the bad. I want to motivate you to open your eyes to God’s glimmers of grace. His gifts will help you to find solace even amid the obstacles you face.
