Today, be aware.

God’s Life floods your heart.

It’s always Raining Grace.

“Do the thing and you will have the power” (Ralph Waldo Emerson). It’s a quote I try to live by. I believe we all have incredible resources. The Master of the universe has decided to take up residence within us. If that weren’t enough, “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). We are swimming in grace! As a longtime spiritual director and a chaplain for all faiths, I’ve witnessed firsthand the workings of grace. It rains abundantly. (Sometimes I wear a waterproof parka and can’t feel a drop. But divine grace awaits my awakening to it.)

Hopefully, some of my reflections will encourage you to access more and more the grace God offers. If you’d like entries sent to your inbox, click here. May something you read help you remember what you’ve always known and live the truth in your heart.

Be Aware of the Power Within You.
Through Grace, You Can Live on Purpose.
And It’s Always Raining Grace.

You Left Me, Lord.
Had you never gone, I would have thought—
I overflowed with love,
Was possessed by generosity,
Rose above the simply worldly, not-yet-seeking crowd.

But you left.

And with you went every speck of my not-whole-but-holey “holiness.”
Pretty clever, Lord—
How you teach your “chosen” they’re NOT chosen
By virtue of their virtue.
Pretty painful, too.

I worry off a prayer—
“The next time I have a bout of spiritual success, Lord,
Will I have another bout with pride?”
Amused, yet patient, you reply with gentle authority—
“If you stay close to me, child, you won’t have to worry about pride.
If you don’t, you won’t have to worry about success.”

Touche, Lord.
May I never again confuse GRACE with virtue!

EPILOGUE

Having been given this insight, I’d love to claim I never again confused Grace with virtue. But our patient God retaught this lesson as needed through the years that followed. His Grace is faithful, even when I’m not. And It’s Always Raining Grace!

Today, be aware.
God’s Life floods your heart.
It’s always Raining Grace.

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Books by Sally

Recently, it seemed my peace was surgically removed. Because of years of the repetitive motion of typing as a teacher and writer, I had an operation to cushion my thumb joint. I experienced the loss of the use of my dominant hand, pain, swelling, difficulty sleeping, and a host of other slings and arrows. But what stressed me was that the morning of the surgery, I received from a publisher an email I felt needed immediate attention. There I was, bandaged up, not in my right mind, and unable to respond as I wanted. Peace? I would have wrung my hands, but the cast made it impossible. Instead, I reminded myself of what I’ve learned through experience—when I think something is “bad,” it’s often a gift concealed to be revealed only when looking back.

I vividly remember the seeming tragedy of needing to go back to work but then finding I loved my new job. Then there were the two family moves I dreaded. The first allowed me to meet people who became essential to my life. The second allowed my children to make life choices that had amazing results.

Flip the Cloth

If we look at events from our limited human angle, we may see what looks like the backside of a cross-stitch embroidery with random knots and a chaos of threads going every which way. Let’s ask for the grace to flip the cloth, to see God’s point of view, and to co-create the colorful, meaningful, exquisite pattern of our lives. The surgery was only a few weeks ago, and maybe it’s too early for me to fully unpack God’s recent gift, but when I do, I trust gratitude will fill my heart as I see that my difficult time completed a Divine design.

Today, be aware.
God’s Life floods your heart.
It’s always Raining Grace.

Books by Sally

During my action-packed, responsibility-laden teaching days, sleeping wasn’t always easy. Praying and relaxing my muscles usually helped me drift off at night, but one night I was drifting nowhere. I was stuck firmly—exactly where I’d been all day—awake. It didn’t help that my husband started lightly, politely snoring approximately four minutes after our heads hit our respective pillows. My eyes were closed, but my mind remained wide open to thought after thought, worry after worry. How could I help a student who was grieving the loss of his father? Should I change the schedule of talks for the retreat? Was Friday’s lesson plan the most engaging way to introduce a new topic for discussion? Lying there, tense and tossing, I didn’t know my shift was over—that God takes the night shift!

The “day shift/night shift prayer” is a prayer of trust that I heard about through the greatvine, word of mouth. For many of us, our to-do list at day’s end has as many items untouched as it has tasks crossed off. But just because there’s work to be done doesn’t mean it’s today’s work. This prayer’s pithy metaphor makes the process of letting go more natural and effective. Ask God for the grace to pray it well, to mean the words and say them with a faith-filled heart. The language below is mine. I’ve adapted the prayer to fit my needs and encourage you to do the same.

I hope and pray, fellow traveler, that you’ll rely on God to take each night shift of your life. He never sleeps and never quits loving, treasuring, and caring for you. If you have a little one, you can help your child get into the habit of turning things over to God at bedtime by reading Night of Mysterious Blessings as you tuck them in at night.

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Books by Sally

| Tips for Parents and Grandparents |

We always promised ice cream after church to make sure our kids would pile into the car happily on Sunday mornings. It worked—until the sad day it didn’t. I’d foolishly gotten a carton of double fudge mid-week, and our bribe had lost its flavor. It’s just as well. Faith built on a triple scoop cone will topple and melt in the heat of life. Through parenting, study, and teaching religion for decades, I’ve come to believe that the secret of helping our offspring establish a lasting faith lies in raising kids who love God.

We all want our children to understand what we believe, and that’s important. But understanding isn’t enough. True faith is built on relationship, not knowledge. Below are some suggestions for building that relationship.

• Help your child know God loves them personally, individually. When holding your child or expressing love to them, compare your unending devotion to them with God’s eternal love for them. Your love for them is unique and so is God’s. They are irreplaceable in God’s heart and in yours.
• Sometimes listen to and sing Christian/sacred music. Talk about how singing favorite lyrics makes you feel on the inside. Note the connection between feelings of joy or peace in our hearts with God’s presence, his Spirit. Give your child the language to discuss their faith and help them know what it feels like to interact with God.
• If you’re having a heart-to-heart with your child, share a difficult emotion you sometimes feel, sadness, frustration, anger . . . . Invite God to listen in. Explain that God knows our thoughts and feelings and doesn’t want us to put on a holy face before coming to him. He loves us exactly as we are. End with a heartfelt prayer of gratitude for God’s unconditional love.
• While tucking your little one in at night, ask, “When did you most feel love toward someone today?” Connect their love with God’s Spirit within them. Pray spontaneously together, aiming your prayers inward to the Spirit who abides in us.
• Consider ending your prayers with something like, “We love you, God. Help us love you more.”
• When your children make mistakes, big or small, after correcting them, remind them that both you and God still treasure them and are forever faithful to them.
• Share your faith journey with your children. Tell them about times you needed God, and he came through in incredible ways. Explain how you persevered in times of doubt and why you’re glad you did.
• Not all prayers will be answered to your or your child’s liking. Pray anyway. Listen to and discuss the country song, Unanswered Prayers—even if you don’t like country music!
• Look for books at your child’s level to inspire them. Read these books together and share your thoughts, feelings, and faith afterward.
• With teens, welcome their questions. Together you can comb Scripture and trusted sources for insights on questions beyond you. Adolescents respect the honest “I don’t know.” Some aspects of the faith remain a mystery. Infinite truths aren’t comprehendible by our finite minds. Mystery helps us stay humble, curious, and seeking more.
• If our kids feel they can be truthful with us, many will express doubts. Uncertainties show your young one is taking their faith seriously. Doubt is an integral part of the journey.

Childhood is fleeting, but its lessons last a lifetime. Let’s pray for the wisdom, patience, and strength to raise our children well. With God’s grace to empower and guide, we can touch the hearts of our offspring, whatever their age.

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Books by Sally

Christmas is a time of gift-giving. In preparation for a new year to breathe, live, and enjoy another spin around the sun, we might want to ask Christ for the gift of virtue as our Christmas present in 2022.

We’ll need virtue to live as fully as possible in the coming year. The source of the word “virtue” is clarifying; it comes from the Latin noun virtus, meaning “strength.” We don’t need to manage our lives without God’s strength, which is abundant. The more we rely on him, the more we are aware of his presence within us—an awareness that makes life vivid, meaningful, joyous!

We all have challenges. Christmas itself can be a challenge—trying to keep a happy cool when presents must be wrapped, cookies baked, and the house readied for guests. No need is too small for a powerful prayer: “Help!” Virtue, strength, is available for those who ask. “(We) can do all things through Christ who strengthens (us)” (Phil. 4:13).

I wish you and your family all the wonder and blessings of a Spirit-filled Christmas—and all the strength of a virtuous new year!

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Books by Sally

|I Struggled to Give My Son a Faith I Didn’t Have|

I flew out of bed at the sound of Brian’s chilling screams. My five-year-old sometimes had bad dreams, but this was different. The air in his room seemed charged with danger and dread.

“It’s okay, honey.” I sat on Brian’s bed and patted his hands. “I’m right here. It’s just a nightmare.” I tried to assure both of us.

Brian’s body remained rigid with terror. I flicked on the overhead light, kissed his cheek,  and carried him to the rocker. Brian was inconsolable.

It occurred to me that I should pray. In fact, I should pray out loud. But what if I prayed, and God did nothing? Brian was just learning about God. I needed to protect his young faith against the slings and arrows of outrageous life. Sometimes God’s “mysterious ways” made me doubt his providence altogether. “It’s okay, honey. Really. Shhhh,” I hushed in motherly tones. But Brian’s fear was building, not abating.

“Sweetheart,” I said in desperation, “let’s talk to God about this.”

“Dear God,” I began.

Between the words “Dear” and “God,” Brian’s little body went limp with peace. My prayer wasn’t compelling, memorable, or well-spoken—a lackluster string of words—but it didn’t matter. The moment, the meeting, belonged to my son and God. My prayer trailed off with a final “Amen.”

As I rocked my peaceful child, I realized I’d had a wake-up call. Not Brian’s terrified screams in the middle of the night, but a wake-up call concerning my lack of faith. After all, I’d been afraid to pray out loud with my son. I’d had so little trust that God would come through. Also, it seemed I was interpreting the struggles in my life as some sign of abandonment. When God’s answers weren’t what I’d hoped for, I felt He hadn’t answered at all.

Brian stretched, repositioned himself in my arms, and laid his head back on my shoulder. The warmth of his body comforted me.

I knew I had so much spiritual growing to do. I remembered the man in Scripture who asked Jesus to heal his son, telling Jesus, “I do believe. Help my unbelief“ (Mark 9:24 KJV). I could identify! If doubts are part of being human, if they are natural, I needed the supernatural. I needed God’s grace. I knew faith was a gift God longed to give.

Brian interrupted my thoughts, sitting upright in my lap. His eyes wide with wonder, his little voice solemn with awe, Brian whispered, “Mommy, how did He get here so quick?”

Today, be aware.
God’s Life floods your heart.
It’s always Raining Grace.

My prayer (pictured above) asks for our healing—body, mind, and spirit. How can our world, still reeling from Covid, war, and mounting divisiveness, be healed? We need grace, Divine intervention, if you will.

We also need to see. To see the possibility of a better world, to share in the creative intention of God, in the vision of God who is aware of what we can be. We have the power to choose love over fear, light over darkness, unity over division. We need to believe in ourselves and our God. We may be on the precipice of transformation. We need to have hope.

sallymetzger.com

Night of Mysterious Blessings

|Add Public Speaking to Your Comfort Zone|

It was my first-year teaching theology at the school, and I’d foolishly agreed to speak to the 900+ educational community at a prayer service. What was I thinking when I said yes? Whatever my thoughts had been, I certainly wasn’t thinking them at that moment! I needed to add public speaking to my comfort zone. Pronto!

Before I walked up to the mic, I looked around to see the principal, vice-principal, my department head, and all my colleagues. These were the people I’d hopefully be working with for years to come. I could hear the blood pounding in my ears, the drumbeat of fear echoing endlessly.

As I waited for my cue to go up to the stage, I saw one of my students. His father had recently died in a traffic accident, and he’d been in my office every day after school that week. Two rows back sat a boy whose little sister had been diagnosed with Leukemia.

When you’re loving, you can’t be nervous.

My topic was Finding God‘s Presence in Difficult Times. It occurred to me that my talk wasn’t about me but for them, the students I’d grown to love. Suddenly, an inner stillness came over me. A thought happily lodged in my brain: When you’re loving, you can’t be nervous.

I spoke calmly to the group before me. Afterward, I remembered the author of the sentence that had rescued me, Mitzi Gaynor, an American actress, singer, and dancer. Mitzi, 90 today, is the star of the classic movie South Pacific. Mitzi used to be nervous before going onstage. She would peek out from the curtain and look at individuals in her audience, the older man, his squirming grandchild, and the pregnant woman in the row behind them.

Mitzi would look intently at each one, imagine the challenges in their lives, and see their need to relax and escape for a while. Then, silently, she proclaimed a developing emotion to each one: I love you! I love you! I love you! Mitzi said when she was loving, she couldn’t be nervous. Mitzi Gaynor, years before, said the words that gave me comfort, and the Spirit within me brought them to mind when I so needed them.

I gave that particular talk to faculty, students, and administrators many years ago. Yet, even today, if I find myself self-conscious or afraid of judgment, I look for someone to care about, someone to love.

My prayer for you–

Today, be aware.
God’s Life floods your heart.
It’s always Raining Grace.