The Inspirational Moment Behind “The Grace Effect”

One morning my Granddaughter and I were watching birds fly up to a feeder we had hanging from a tree. Cardinals.  Sparrows.  Finches. Perched on the feeder, they were delighting in the morning’s abundance. Perched by a picture window, my Granddaughter and I were delighting in them.

When our breakfast was ready I became otherwise distracted, but Brynlee still had her eye on the feeder.  A moment later she pointed outside and exclaimed,

“Look Pappy, he’s upside down! Take his picture!”

Peeking out the window before scurrying off to get the camera I had left in the kitchen, I saw this tenacious squirrel stretched out, bending over backwards, working much harder than all of our flying feathered friends, refusing to allow something like gravity to deter him from the tasty treats.

With my camera in hand, I crawled across the floor until I was directly underneath the picture window. Brynlee could hardly contain her excitement.  As I popped up to take this photo, she could be heard coaching the little guy from just over my shoulder, “Say cheese!”

Paul said, "I worked harder than all of the others, but it was not me — it was the Grace of God that was with me. His Grace to me was not without effect.” (1Corinthians 15:10 NIV/srb)

Now I wake up every morning to the sight of this tenacious squirrel and the thought that today, whatever it takes, whatever I need to do, I’m going to see to it that the Abundant Grace, God is giving me, will never be without effect.

And so, in that treasured experience with my Granddaughter, a whole new endeavor was born, dedicated to sharing “Happy Pappy’s Inspirational Moments” — a Collection of Artworks I hope you too encounter encouragement with, receive strength through, and find inspiration in.