And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. — JOHN 1:16
My big sister is a major card-sender—birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s, St. Patrick’s Day, you name it and Mary Lou graces my mailbox with a card. She never forgets. Me, I’m a slacker. I’ll buy the occasional greeting card but never seem to actually get around to sending it. The convenience and instant gratification of e-cards has made it only slightly more likely that I’ll send one.
But I love Mary Lou’s cards. My birthday just wouldn’t be complete without her greeting, or Valentine’s Day without the burst of a heart-red envelope in my mailbox. I don’t even need to decipher her left-handed scrawl to know it’s from her. And she’s the only one who actually mails me a St. Patrick’s Day card (in a green envelope).
Mary Lou has been a world-class big sister to me all my life, ever since she got to name me after her favorite uncle (Hi, Uncle Ed!) because she was so upset about our mother having to go to the hospital and have me. I’m the baby of the family, and you know what that means. I got away with a lot of stuff the other kids never could. A little spoiled, you might say—just a little.
And maybe all these years later Mary Lou is still spoiling me a bit. Not that I deserve it. I’m too old. Yet Mary Lou’s cards keep coming. They remind me of grace: We don’t necessarily deserve it; it just comes. Maybe it’s God’s way of spoiling His children just a bit.
Next time the occasion arises, I’m sending Mary Lou a card. I wonder if she’ll recognize my handwriting.
I’m blessed, Lord, in so many ways I don’t deserve. Thank You for the miracle of Your grace and for world-class big sisters.
Download your FREE ebook, Daily Devotionals: 7 Days of Bible Devotions to Strengthen Your Faith
