It is the Gift of God

 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
                                                                                          Ephesians 2:6-10

I read of a man who, today, stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon.  He had seen pictures of the canyon but today, he wrestled to find adequate words to describe the beauty and the wonder of that which he now witnessed. Instead, he removed his hat and bowed his head, admitting how totally lost he was in the magnitude of God's creation. 

How small this man considered himself. How insignificant he felt. I can echo his feelings as I think of the day, years ago when I stood where he was standing today.  The only way I could describe that feeling would be by thanking God that I, too, had absorbed such a marvelous creation. 

I thought for a moment about mere humans standing in the presence of God's grace. My weakness turning to strength, because of the mighty hand of God.  Beyond any comparison by human standards, the grace of God allows us to personally experience God's love for mankind, his provision, his heart.   One songwriter expressed it like this:

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide,

    What can avail to wash it away?

Look! there is flowing a crimson tide;

   Whiter than snow you may be today.

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