While in Kenya, we encountered Grace. Grace is one of Kaylie's friends. It is her name and her namesake. It is also what she embodies.
Grace has had a very difficult year, but her life has hope and promise now. Grace makes jewelry and handbags and other items to sell. Some friends gave beads and wire to take to Kenya, and we decided to give it all to Grace. This woman has little but invited us to her home for lunch. A very delicious lunch! Gracious, indeed. After lunch, we gave her a couple of bags of beads. She pulled them out strand by strand (or container). After pulling out the first one, she was just so thankful. So excited, so expressive, so speechless. We sort of chuckled because if she spent so much time looking at and being so thankful for each one, there was no way we would go through the two bags. I do not know if I have ever seen someone so thankful in my life. Real gladness, real expression that this is unexpected and undeserved, real thankfulness at the gifts but also turning it to God and thanking Him for provision and care, real appreciation to and for others.
That is what I want to cultivate in my life. Sheer gratitude.
(Andrea)
Funny, I've been thinking about thankfulness a lot in the past week, too. :)
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