Bec's Blog

January 2026 Blog

Let’s call him “Harry.” (Names have been changed to protect the innocent.)

He’s a handyman for a property rental company. He’s very good and does exceptional work. But… he’s very, very difficult to communicate with.

He’ll text, says he’ll call in an hour, and then not call. Or he’ll call several hours later.

Or not call at all. Or he says he’ll text to confirm a time, and then never texts.

Or, he’ll be working on a time to come to the house for a repair, and then say… hmm…

I’ll be out of town for a few days that week but can come the following…

Then it’s the following week and there’s no Harry. He’s contacted again, (enter property rental manager at this point)… and… oh yeah… he just forgot.

Eventually he shows up and… he’s wonderful! He’s warm and interested and interesting and takes care of the (no, not immediate) need and anything else which needs addressed. Sigh.What do you do about Harry? The world would say don’t go there again. He’s no good. Don’t bother. Etc.

Ah, but… God.

Often in the Bible frustrating (or worse) situations will completely turn around with the opening words “But, God…” The famous scene from Genesis 50:20 comes to mind.

Joseph, who went from sold-into-slavery-brother to second-in-command-in-Egypt, says to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…”

There are many other examples as well, at least 40 – 60 times we read this phrase!

With Harry, the thought gradually occurred to me to show him… grace.

Drop the expectations, and just take him for who he is: genuinely caring and gifted and helpful, but scatter-brained to the max. (I’m sure people have thought that of me too!)

Ah, grace. God’s grace. It’s still a mystery even though people try to define it in simple and even acrostic ways. It’s definitely something we can’t earn. It is definitely a gift from God, and we know it when we’ve received it. It often includes forgiveness, humility, and compassion. “It’s a blanket of peace which touches our souls.”

We love to receive it, but how are we doing at offering it to others? Or even ourselves?

We may need a prescription for it, and then to take it and share it often!

This new year, how about taking the time to receive, share, and practice more grace?

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

Draw near, receive, and find!

Happy new year! May it be a more peaceful, grace-receiving and grace-giving year for you than ever before! And “may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14