A Description of God’s Grace

Disclaimer: The following are Dr. Jeff Stott’s sermon notes and manuscript. They have not been carefully proofed for spelling or grammar. They are printed and given “as is.” Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the New International Version.

" For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."

Ephesians 2:8

What would you think if you went to buy a car and the salesman told you, you either had to push the car everywhere you went or pay extra for an engine? You would know something was wrong because cars come equipped with their own supply of power to get you where you are going. The engine is part of the deal.

You do have a responsibility to fill it with gas, turn on the ignition and steer, but your effort does not supply the power for the trip. When I see so many Christians struggling in their Christian life, living defeated lives day after day, month after month, and year after year, it soon becomes apparent they “push” their Christian lives. They don’t realize that the power of the Christian life is already under the hood. Under the hood of your heart is an engine called grace. And that grace gives you the power to live the abundant life our Lord promised we could live.

When we talk about God’s grace what are we talking about. Let me give you a quick definition. The grace of God is His inexhaustible supply of goodness by which He does for us what we could never do for ourselves even though we don’t deserve it. Another way to say it, God’s Riches At Christ Expense. God’s grace is God’s love being shown to people who don’t deserve His love.

Before we get to deep into God’s grace you need to know about two different types of God’s grace.

First, you need to know about God’s shared grace. Jesus says that God causes the sun to shine and the rain to fall on the unrighteous as well as the righteous (Matt. 5:45).

That’s part of God’s shared grace to all. So is the air. It is by God’s grace that we have air to breath. You don’t have to be a Christian to get oxygen. God let’s both Christian and non-Christian experience some of the blessings of this world. That’s called shared grace. You don’t have to be a Christian to be healthy. You don’t have to be a Christian to get a job. These are all blessing that come to people because of God’s shared grace.

We have shared grace and secondly, we have special grace. Shared grace is for everyone, but special grace is for only God’s people. Over the years kids from the neighborhood or church frequently come over to our house. We enjoy it, and we share what we have with them. They play and have something to drink, get lunch, or whatever. But special benefits are available only to my kids. For example, my kids have keys to the house. When they get older my kids get keys to the cars. God gives common benefits to the whole human race, but the benefits of His special grace come only to His children. All these special benefits happen because of Jesus Christ as we will see. When you are a child of God there are blessings that you get to experience that non-believers will not get to experience. The child of God experiences God’s special grace because He is a part of God’s family.

Like all of God’s attributes and characteristics we cannot fully explore God’s grace in the time we have. God’s grace is to big, to awesome and to amazing. But I do want us to think about four elements of God’s grace that will help us gain a clearer picture and a greater appreciation of God’s amazing grace.

1. Saving Grace: God blessed me by rescuing me.

First of all, I want us to see God’s saving grace. Here is where you can say, “God blessed me by rescuing me.” I didn’t deserve to be saved but He saved me anyway. Without a doubt and without any compromise the only way to heaven and to be saved from our sin is by grace that comes through Jesus. Remember, grace is God doing something for us that we cannot do for ourselves. We cannot save ourselves. It took Jesus dying on a cross for us and resurrecting from the grave for us to have eternal life.

Look closely at Ephesians 2:8, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast” (NIV). It is by God’s generosity that we are saved. Titus 2:11 says, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (NIV). When Jesus Christ showed up it was God’s grace showing up.

Without God’s grace there is no salvation. For example, you’ve been knocked overboard and now you are in a raging river. You are sure to die. There is nothing you can do to save yourself. The current is too strong to swim against and you are being pulled further away from the boat. When you thought all was lost you looked up and saw grace standing on the side of the shore. Grace throws you a life preserver and He  pulls you in. If Grace hadn’t been there you would have surely been lost. Without grace there is no salvation.

Grace didn’t throw you that life preserver because you earned it. It’s not that you are a good guy and He didn’t want to see a good guy die. God didn’t save you because you went to church enough, or because you quit some sin or because you started financially supporting something with His name on it. By definition, grace is blessing someone who does not deserve it. God saved you because He decided to bless you out of His grace. That’s the nature of grace.

That’s God’s saving grace. God’s saving grace is His inexhaustible supply of goodness by which He rescued you from sin even though you didn’t deserve it.

2. Sufficient Grace: God blessed me by getting me through it.

Not only do we see God’s saving grace, but we also see God’s sufficient grace. Here is where you can say, “God blessed me by getting me through it.” I didn’t deserve His help but He decided to help me anyway. Look at 2 Corinthians 9:8, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work” (NKJV). God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in everyway you will have everything you need to excel in everything He would have you to do. God’s got something for everything you need. There is no such thing as insufficient grace.

Many of us have suffered the embarrassment of bouncing a check because of insufficient funds. But God has no problem covering His checks. The Bible is telling us that God’s grace is so inexhaustible, so awesome in its supply, it never runs out. Grace is designed not only to save you, but to keep you. When you became a Christian, God supplied you with everything you need for spiritual life and growth. The grace that saved you, will keep you saved and keep you growing. It is sufficient.

The story is told of a man who paid for an ocean cruise. The fare took all of his money, leaving him nothing for meals on the week-long trip. So he brought peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with him, and while his fellow passengers enjoyed extravagant meals and buffets every evening, he went to his cabin in disappointment and ate his peanut butter sandwiches. The man was miserable knowing that everyone else was eating incredible food, but he knew he couldn’t enjoy any of it because he had used all of his money for his ticket. At the end of the cruise, as the man was leaving the ship, one of the porters asked him, “How did you enjoy the cruise?”  He said, “Well, I loved the ride, but I was always hungry because I couldn’t afford any of the food.” The porter looked at him in astonishment and replied, “Sir, the meals were included in the price of your ticket! You were miserable for no reason at all.”

 
I think when a lot of us get to heaven, God could say, “You were miserable for no reason at all. All of your answers and all the strength you needed were available in My grace. But you didn’t grow in grace and never came to understand My sufficiency. You wrestled through life on your own strength and your own sufficiency.” When you met Jesus Christ, everything you need for your Christian life was included in the salvation “ticket” He gave you. But if you don’t grow in grace you don’t know all the goodness God has supplied for you.

God’s grace is sufficient. He’s given you everything for life and godliness. Paul asked God to remove a thorn from his life three times. According to 2 Corinthians 12:9 God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (HCSB).

I’m confident you have a “thorn” somewhere in your life. Maybe your thorn is a person who keeps picking on you, a problem you can’t get over, or an illness the doctors can’t heal. God says His grace doesn’t always remove these things, but it does empower you to overcome them. God’s grace is not just a “disappearing cream” you rub on problems. It raises you above the problem and gives you power at the exact point where most people would quit.

God’s grace enables us to love people we would normally hate, to have patience where we would normally give up. Grace gives us power we didn’t have before. Grace does not simply remove problems, sometimes it helps us plow through them. But it’s still grace, because we couldn’t have done it without God. God’s grace is sufficient. It will supply what we need or get us through what we need to get through.

So when we are talking about God’s sufficient grace, we are talking about His inexhaustible supply of goodness by which He supplies what you need to get through life’s difficulties even though you don’t deserve it.

3. Sanctifying Grace: God blessed me by growing me spiritually.

God’s grace is a saving grace, a sufficient grace, but God’s grace is also a sanctifying grace. Here is where you are able to say, “God blessed me by growing me spiritually.” It is by God’s grace that we grow in godliness and holiness. The grace of God sanctifies us. Sanctification is the act of becoming holy and godly, becoming more like Jesus. And this process starts when we come in contact with God’s grace and surrender our lives to Jesus Christ. It is by God’s grace that those sins you use to commit, you’ve stopped and repented of. It’s by God’s grace. The ability to say no to sin and yes to what is right is by God’s grace. Look at Titus 2:11-12, “For the grace of God has appeared, with salvation for all people, [We’ve already talked about that, that’s called God’s saving grace… but look what else God’s grace does] (12) instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age” (HCSB). God’s grace teaches us not to live against God nor to do the evil things the world wants to do. Instead, grace teaches us to live in a wise and right way and in a way that shows we serve God. When we are saved by grace, the Holy Spirit moves in bringing grace with it into our lives. That grace then gives us a desire to live a sensible, righteous and godly life. We are not only saved by grace, we are taught by grace. The reason you are a stronger Christian today than you were ten years ago is because of God’s grace. The reason you are able to say no to any sin is because of God’s grace. The reason you are able to say yes to anything sensible, righteous or godly is because of God’s grace. You are sanctified and spiritually growing because of God’s grace. God’s grace is a sanctifying grace.

God’s sanctifying grace is His inexhaustible supply of goodness by which you are able to say yes to what’s right and no to what’s wrong even though you don’t deserve it.

4. Serving Grace: God blessed me by equipping me for ministry.

Well… we have seen that God’s grace is a saving grace, a sufficient grace, and a sanctifying grace and now we see that God’s grace is a serving grace. Here is where you can say “God has blessed me by equipping me for ministry.” Every Christian has at least one spiritual gift and they have that gift because of God’s grace. Romans 12:6 says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us” (HCSB). If God wanted to He could have saved you and then made you useless to His kingdom. But He chose to give you a spiritual gift that you can use in His service and be a blessing to others. Do you realize that every time you use your gift you are revealing God’s grace. Look at 1 Peter 4:10, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (HCSB). When you use the gift God has given you demonstrate God’s grace.

For example, let’s say you have the gift of mercy. The gift of mercy is the ability to show sympathy and empathy for someone who is hurting. When someone is discouraged you come alongside them and express compassion and understanding. You comfort them and become an emotional and spiritual southing ointment on their soul. When that person experiences mercy coming from you, they are in reality experiencing God’s grace through that mercy. They don’t deserve nor have they earned mercy but they are experiencing it by God’s grace through you. 

When you learn something about God, about others or about you from God’s Word from someone who has the gift of teaching that is God’s grace at work. We don’t deserve to learn anything about God but He let’s us learn and He let’s us learn by His grace.

No matter what your spiritual gift is, whether it’s the gift of administration… the gift of leadership… the gift of discernment… encouragement or wisdom, every time you use it, it reveals God’s grace.

God’s serving grace is His inexhaustible supply of goodness by which He gives you a spiritual gift and place of ministry in His kingdom even though you don’t deserve it.

Conclusion: How do I respond to God’s grace?

We are saved by grace through Jesus Christ, we are sustained by grace because His grace is sufficient, we are sanctified by grace which empowers us to say yes to godliness and we serve by grace because God gives us a spiritual gift and a ministry.

How do you respond to this grace?

First, receive God’s saving grace into your life. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You and I don’t deserve to be saved. We don’t deserve to have our sins forgiven and go to heaven. But, because of God’s grace through Jesus Christ we can. But we have to receive Christ and His Lordship over our lives. [Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I turn from my sins. I now invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as the Lord and Savior of my life. In Your name. Amen.]

Second, depend on God’s sufficient grace to get you through the vallies of life. You and I don’t deserve God’s help, but because of God’s grace and love for us He wants to give us the strength and direction to succeed through our struggles. Depend on His sufficient grace.

Third, allow God’s sanctifying grace to grow you into the person of God He has created you to be. You and I are no better than anyone else. The reason we are able to say no to sin and yes to God is by His grace. It is His grace that helps us to grow into the man or woman of God He created us to be.

Fourth, trust God’s serving grace to use you to make a difference in other’s lives through your spiritual gift. You and I don’t deserve to be used by God in His kingdom. By His grace He chooses to use people like you and me. Begin to discover your gift and put it to use. When you do you will begin to make a difference in other’s lives.

Fifth, praise God for His amazing grace. Tell God thanks for His incredible grace that saved you, strengthens you, and works through you.

Uncertainties

Nowadays, I feel uncertain and insecure of many things. Questions popped out from my head without clear answers.

What's the purpose of my life? Why all these things happened to me? What do I do now?

Then I read the devotional below.....

Unanswered Questions

By Fern Horst

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I am analytical by nature. When it comes to figuring out how something works so that I can use or fix it, or to getting to the root of a problem so that I can move forward (and to helping a friend do the same), that characteristic serves me well. But when trying to figure out the "whys" of life that have no humanly-known answer, or have answers I'm not yet supposed to know, it has caused me much wasted time and energy.

A number of years ago the Lord showed me the futility of trying to figure it all out - why some who live upright lives suffer in unthinkable ways; why some faithful Christians struggle financially; why some marriageable people never find a mate; why some with big hearts are never blessed with children; why some parents of young children are taken away by death or divorce; why some who delight themselves in the Lord seem not to be granted the desires of their hearts; the list can go on and on.

After experiencing an excruciating disappointment in my life and trying to figure out why it had all happened, a wise person told me, "I've found that these things never have only one reason; they happen as a result of many reasons, some which we can figure out, and others that we never will." I've thought of those wise words often. Realizing that some things can never be understood has helped me to let go of many of the questions that have no answers and relieved me of the angst of over analyzing.

But our inner peace regarding unanswered questions can go far beyond this simple embrace of the unknowns. Recently a friend shared this nugget of truth from Proverbs 20:24, expressed in the paraphrase of the Living Bible: "Since the Lord is directing our steps, why try to understand everything that happens along the way?"

Indeed, why should we? Even more than the fact that there are questions that can't be answered, is the fact that God is directing our steps. As the One whose ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9), we have every reason to trust that He knows what He's doing, that He knows the answers to all of our whys, that He knows us better than we know ourselves, that He knows the purpose He has for our lives, and that He will faithfully direct our steps accordingly. Our job is to trust Him, to follow Him, to lean on Him, and to let Him carry us when the way gets rough.

I think of Job and his friends and their attempts to reconcile his godliness with his suffering. Unknown to all of them something was happening in the spiritual realm that would have answered all their questions. If nothing else, the story of Job reveals that as mere mortals there are many things we don't know about, let alone understand, but that God has under control.

We learn to trust God as we encounter situation after situation that we don't understand and choose to embrace the unknowns as part of life, trusting that He is directing our steps and will reveal what we need to know in His timing, and to keep concealed what we don't.

© 2010 Fern Horst
www.singleness.org

Cave Adventure in Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur

The cave was not yet developed... Preparing to enter the cave not knowing what to expect. We were given some instructions...

Where we enter.. a small hole... no way of going back.. we have to reach the exit...

so dark... some brought flashlight but we only brought our cellphone and water...

the youngest  adventurer... my nephew, Jezreel..

gaining strength for the way up...

ready to go up so we can go out...

memories to cherish...

nothing to hold on.. somebody had to push us up... just the beginning...

the little hole where we have to come out.... a little twist and turn... then someone from the outside pulled us out...

YES, we made it....



Cinderella

Places in Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines

Dumingag



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Aurora

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Tabina

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Lakewood

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Love and Heartbreak

"I have never love you." words that cuts my heart like a knife. I had never expected you to say that. I just wanted you to reassure me of your love when I asked the question "Do you still love me?" I was dumbfounded upon hearing those words. I can't think straight and just had to say goodbye. For days I feel like a zombie, living yet feeling dead.... crying myself to sleep yet have to show a brave front for everyone to see that i am okey. I just can't stop the tears rolling down my face whenever i remember the words. I have to command myself to be strong... be strong for the pain will come to pass.....

People say I am a strong woman, independent and dependable. But being with you these past months made me realized that i needed someone to lean on.... someone to take care of me.. to love me and i will love. My days revolved around you. Every seconds i have no work, i wanted to spend with you. I believe I spent my waking and sleeping hours with you because you never left my mind and heart. I never loved a man like the way I love you.

Today, i saw your new look. You loss weight due to those days you were fasting. I was continually praying you will be strengthen and will not be sick. And I believe my prayers were answered. You look great and in good health. But, what really surprised me with this look was the shaving of your mustache. You never wanted to shave your mustache before. Or maybe she asked you to and because you love her that much, you're willing to sacrifice. Well, that's what love can do. She is happy.. you are happy.. and I am willing to be happy for you eventhough my heart is in pain.

How love can change one's world. Two hearts joined together can create a rainbow out of the rain and sunshine. But one broken heart can make a choice. Will she lives in darkness and be destroyed.... or live in hope till the clouds will clear? The decision is mine...

Missing You

i've been living alone

trying to get you out of my life

but after all this time

i can't help myself but miss you

you're once a dream that came true

an illusion that turned to reality

but suddenly things turned out differently

from the way they used to be

then i have no choice but to let you go

you're the reason for my sleepless nights

coz you keep stayin' on my mind

i can't help myself from crying

coz i'm missing you so much........

all the pain & sadness are still inside my heart

all the memories i still preserve in my mind

which moved me to miss you so much

coz i can't hide the fact that i'm still inlove with you

my life will never be the same again

now that you're gone

i'll be trapped in this loneliness forever

unless a guy like you will come into my life....

i thought this was a letter i would never had to write,

i hope my tongue was something i could bite.

i've realized its just something i cannot do,

here are my feelings, naming just a few.

the time had passed,

yet i'm still in love with you

everyday you're on my mind,

but your love is with someone else now,

im so jealous, she is a lucky girl.

will we ever be together again?

i ask myself a hundred times as i sob

but as each day passes,

i am losing hope.

Depression: Hopelessness and Self-loathing

Depression can be a disabling disorder that feels like a deep, dark hole from which there is no escape. Clinical depression is more than feeling "down" or "blue," which all of us experience at times. Rather, a clinically depressed person exhibits or experiences a variety of emotional, cognitive, physical, and behavioral symptoms such as sadness, tearfulness, fatigue, poor concentration, insomnia, over-sleeping, loss of appetite, over-eating, loss of interest in things previously enjoyed, irritability, anger, agitation, lethargy, suicidal thoughts, or feelings of guilt, hopelessness, or worthlessness for more than just a few days.

Depression is not difficult to diagnose, but determining the causes of depression can be tricky. Is it purely genetic or biochemical? Is it purely situational or reactive? Or is it a combination of genetic and situational factors?

Treatment may involve antidepressant medications, counseling, or both. A variety of antidepressant medications work to correct a chemical imbalance in the brain that affects mood. The chemical imbalance may have been caused by genetics, a medical illness that affects brain chemistry, head trauma, substance abuse, or chronic exposure to a depressing environment (such as growing up in an abusive household, living in an abusive marriage, or experiencing a succession of overwhelming losses), or any combination of the above. Antidepressant medications usually give some relief within a month, but the process may involve a trial-and-error period until your doctor determines the right medication and dosage.

Counseling for depression focuses on educating the client about depression and treatment options, facilitating grieving unresolved losses, healing past emotional traumas, correcting mistaken beliefs about self, others, and life, changing unhelpful patterns of thinking, and teaching coping and self-care skills. Interestingly, research has shown that successful counseling can help correct chemical imbalances in the brain much as antidepressant medications do, only more gradually.

Certain patterns of thinking seem to fuel depression. These patterns are often a reaction to chronic situational circumstances such as growing up in an alcoholic, abusive, or highly dysfunctional family environment or being in an abusive relationship. The most common patterns of thinking that fuel depression are hopelessness and self-loathing.

Hopelessness is a pattern of thinking where individuals believe they are trapped in misery with no expectation of things ever getting better.

Self-loathing is a pattern of thinking where individuals believe they are bad, worthless, evil, unsuccessful, unlovable, and/or incompetent.

Both patterns of thinking are common reactions to childhood abuse, trauma, neglect, or overwhelming loss where no substantial adult support was available to help these children deal with their painful situations. Thus, these children are forced to cope alone, as best as their immature minds can, sometimes with disastrous results, such as relying on drugs, alcohol, gangs, crime, promiscuous sex, and other self-destructive behaviors. Very often these children grow into adults who do not know how to take care of themselves emotionally, physically, spiritually, or in relationships. Thus, these patterns of thinking emerge as a reaction to the original pain (the childhood trauma or dysfunction) and then persevere into adulthood when these individuals struggle, often unsuccessfully, to find their places in relationships and in the world.

Interestingly, research has shown that individuals diagnosed with depression do not always exhibit these destructive patterns of thinking (that is, hopelessness and self-loathing). In fact, when persons who have a history of depression are not particularly depressed, their patterns of thinking are not significantly different from persons who have never been clinically depressed. So how can we explain this?

These destructive patterns of thinking seem to be connected to a "switch" in the mind of a person who struggles with depression. Certain "triggers" seem to "trip" the switch, causing a flood of hopeless and self-loathing thoughts, which then ignites the embers of depression into full-fledged flames. Triggers can be anything that trips the switch, such as being criticized, having an argument with a spouse, losing a job, flunking a test, making a mistake, becoming ill, being denied a promotion, feeling rejected, raising a difficult child, having a bad day, experiencing a loss or disappointment, having a financial setback, and so on.

When the switch is triggered, it's as if "audio tapes" in a depressed person's mind begin to blare, overwhelming the person with "stinking thinking" such as "I am a failure," "I can't do anything right," "No one could ever really love me," "Things will never get better," "I don't deserve to be here," "I'm bad," "I will always be alone," "No one cares about me," "I can't trust anyone," and so on until the person's own thinking pounds him or her into a deep, dark, depressive hole.

Learning to be aware of when this switch has been tripped and then learning how to reset the switch are valuable skills in managing depression. These skills can be learned in counseling.

God Will Never Give Up On You

One day I decided to quit... I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.


"God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit.

His answer surprised me... "Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

He said, "When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor.Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo."

"In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo."

"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit."

"In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit."

"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant... But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."

He asked me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots."

"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. Don't compare yourself to others. The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful. Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high."

"How high should I rise?" I asked


"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return


"As high as it can?" I questioned


"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can"


I left the forest and brought back this story. I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you. Never, Never, Never Give up. For the Christian, Prayer is not an option but an opportunity. Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is, tell the problem how Great the Lord is.

The People In Your Life

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.!

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.