I have a story to tell…and I’m not the greatest story teller, so please bear with me. But it has to be told because it is such a beautiful illustration of God’s grace in, through and over our lives. A grace that I often take very much for granted instead of recognizing God’s generosity towards us through this amazing unmerited gift.
We were blessed with family time over the holidays – the day after Christmas the southern family left for the north, and the following day, the northern family left for the south and we found each other in Lake of the Ozarks at an AirBnB. Only 2 grandchildren were lacking – both college students who had other commitments for the 5 days we were together…sadly, somewhat to be expected as their lives are looking forward to graduations, grades and internships. All very important.
But the other 11 of us gathered and had 4 days of unbridled relaxation and fun – even in the midst of a bitter cold spell for a couple of days. We cooked to our heart’s content – every day found a variety of chefs whipping together amazing meals we could all enjoy. Everyone rested well after our 16 year old grandson took a room to himself so he could freely snore up a storm!We played games and cards, did puzzles, and everyone learned pool if they didn’t already know how to play. The grandkids enjoyed a water park, the families conquered an Escape Room, and all of us were enchanted by our hour-long tour through Stark Caverns, just a few minutes away.
After our cavern tour tour, we headed to Tucker’s Shuckers in Lake Ozark (https://tuckersshuckers.com/). Our table of 11 had both excellent service and excellent food – ranging from chicken tenders and chicken wings, to shrimp Po’ Boys, Bang-bang shrimp and lobster bisque. When our waitress came over with the tab, she told one of our sons that on Tuesdays, customers can roll a dice and if it comes up a 6, the meal is on the house. Our 16 year old grandson grabbed the dice and without hesitation, rolled a 6. We were stunned and wide-eyed as the waitress kept confirming over and over, yes, your lunch is free for the entire table. I leaned over to my daughter-in-law sitting next to me and we both simultaneously expressed surprise, delight, and some guilt that we were walking away with very contented stomachs at someone else’s expense. I have never experienced something like that in a restaurant – perhaps it is more common than I think, but I’ve eaten in a lot of restaurants…
So in reflecting, which we all did, of course, for quite some time, I thanked God for the sweet treat we all had. Perhaps I should have left it there, but I’m always working diligently to view life through the lens of faith, and I knew there should be a lesson here. And while I’m sure each one who hears this story can summon up their own life lesson, I could only focus on God’s gift of grace – unmerited, unearned favor. We didn’t earn our lunch, we didn’t deserve our free lunch, we just received it without forewarning, having no idea that this Tuesday tradition existed. It just came into our lives and we graciously accepted it (although we did leave a very generous tip for the server and express much gratitude). We didn’t work hard at rolling a 6 – it just happened. We didn’t chart our own path to a free lunch – it just came to us.
That’s God’s grace – we just need to receive the gift and give thanks to him for his great love for us and his generosity to pursue us. He generously and lovingly sent His Son Jesus to bring us back to him as we chose to walk in our sinful nature. The one little, but actually very big glitch, in this analogy is that behind the restaurant’s generosity there was no love driving their giving. Probably, if anything, a good PR strategy to get people to come in on Tuesday and taste the amazing food with the hope they will return. But behind God’s gift of grace is His great and perfect love for His creation, His desire to lead us away from evil, save us from sin and death, to protect us from the attacks of the evil one.
So while we all gave thanks for the unexpected free meal, my heart traveled to a sweet spot of thanksgiving, joy and peace, knowing that God’s grace, exemplifying His great love and generosity towards us, is not just for a one time roll of the dice, but for eternity. And I was reminded that as the years go by, and we wind our way through retirement, there are some constants that will never change. That even as our days grow less complicated and our bodies grow less agile, the grace of God brings a constant energy and encouragement to our lives – that we have more to learn, more to give, more to share. That our days can remain vibrant and full of joy as we continue to move closer to our eternal home.
Don't Waste Your Retirement 