Grace is not blind. It sees the hurt full well. But chooses to see God's forgiveness even more.

You are valuable because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done - but simply because you are.

To call yourself a child of God is one thing. To be called a child of God by those who watch your life is another thing altogether.

You weren't an accident. You weren't mass produced. You aren't an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the earth by the Master Craftsman.

Our aim - our only aim - is to be at home in Christ. He's not a roadside park or hotel room. He's our permanent mailing address. Christ is our home. He's our place of refuge and security. We're comfortable in his presence, free to be our authentic selves. We know our way around in him. We know his heart and his ways. We rest in him, find our nourishment in him. His roof of grace protects us from storms of guilt. His walls of providence secure us from destructive winds. His fireplace warms us during the lonely winters of life. We linger in the abode of Christ and never leave.

Never underestimate the power that comes when a parent pleads with God on behalf of a child.

How we handle our tough times stays with us for a long time.