Grace Notes

In Philip Yancey's book "What's So Amazing About Grace?", he talks about "Grace Notes". In music, grace notes are unexpected, lilting notes that are not necessary to the melody, but add interest, beauty, and spark to the piece. In life, grace notes are the unexpected moments that bring pleasure. While beautiful and appreciated any time, they are especially valuable when life seems a little tough.

Here are a few from the past few days:

~A very enjoyable dinner with some dear friends after a long day. A delicious home cooked meal, great fellowship, and I didn't have to do dishes!

~Reluctantly attending a concert allowed me an opportunity to chat with an acquaintance. While my world often feels very lonely and isolated, I was so encouraged to know that there are others who bear similar burdens.

~A call from my family making plans for a last-minute rendezvous for my baby brother (24 y.o.!) to meet his new nephew before he moves across country for grad school.

The predominant theme in my life is threatening dissonance, but grace notes like these encourage hope.