Better than we deserve

I was just reading something by C.J.Mahaney in which he said, "Vacations provide unhurried periods of time where in the shadow of the cross a husband/father realizes afresh that he is doing much better than he deserves. Instead of wrath and hell God has been merciful and kind, pouring out his wrath on his Son so that sinners like you and me could experience forgiveness, justification, redemption, reconciliation, and adoption.

And because of the cross, evidences of grace abound in our lives, beginning in our families. We should be specifically grateful to God for each member of our family and express this gratefulness to them. Vacations are opportunities to discern and celebrate these unique gifts from God that we don’t deserve."

Well this is certainly true of vacations, day-trips, and other ventures, but it should also be true of everyday life. Families can bring out the worst in us--frustrations, anger, selfishness, and disappointments, just to name a few--but it is in those moments that we become aware of our sinfulness. We are the problem. Once we are freshly awakened to our sinfulness, it shouldn't take long to realize that we are each undeserving of any good thing. God, however, graciously gives to us much more than we can even begin to properly appreciate. Among countless other gifts, He has entrusted to us a wonderful family. We are doing much better than we deserve. Thank you, God.