Goodness, Grace, and Mercy
Father, you are greater than anyone or anything in all the universe. For you created all that is, all that was, and all that is to come. There is no one like you. From everlasting to everlasting, you are God. You are unlike any other being I have encountered. You do not force yourself on anyone. When we run from you, you pursue us with goodness, grace, and mercy. You wait patiently for us. When we come to you, you welcome us with open arms, thankful that we are willing to receive your goodness, grace, and mercy. You wait expectantly for us. Just as the father of the son who left waited every day, looking for his son to return, you look for us every moment of every day. There were no sermons toward that son. In fact, the father stopped the son from recounting his “sins” and said, “Bring the best robe and my ring and place them on him and prepare a welcome party! My son is home!” That is such a wonderful picture of how you treat us. You stop us when we recount our failures and tell us how delighted you are we are with you. You throw a party for us! You are only good, and you only do good things for us. I am thankful that you accept all of us just as we are. I am thankful that you accept me just as I am. No demands, no sermons, only goodness, grace, and mercy. There is truly no one like you. Amen.
