Indebted to God

From: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp:

Here dies another day
During which I have had eyes, ears, hands
And the great world round me; 
And with tomorrow begins another. 
Why am I allowed two?


"Why are we allowed two? Why lavished with three? A whole string of grace days? Isn't even one day enough?
...
That we are allowed two - a grace miracle I hardly ever notice.
When I realize that it is not God who is in my debt but I who am in His great debt, then doesn't all become gift?

For He might not have." (pages 93, 94)

This is just an excerpt from her book. Now, I want to pair this with Romans 4:4 "A workers wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due." 


Two things have been striking me: 1. God might not have: given grace, given another day, given a wonderful friend. 2. We are indebted to Him

Often times it is easy for us to think that God owes us. We push God into the passenger seat and step into the driver's spot. "I prayed this rosary for my grandpa's healing, why does he still have cancer? I go to mass every Sunday, on week days, pray daily, regularly go to confession and adoration, why do bad things have to happen to me? God, I don't deserve this trial. I don't deserve to go through hard times. Don't I deserve an easy life? Don't You owe Me honor, glory, and blessings?"

 This often our mind set. However, Jesus came, and He suffered. He suffered greatly. If Jesus came to us, let go of His Godliness, humbled Himself, and suffered humiliation, beatings, etc then why would we deserve a life of ease and pleasure? Should we not suffer willing for our God?


So, many of us have jobs, right? And we get paid for our jobs, yes? And we feel we deserve to get paid, that we deserve, that it is due to us? We always look forward to pay day - it's the best day every two weeks - I finally get what I deserve for all the crap that I do! What if I were to tell you each day should be treated like pay day? Each day God far exceeds in giving us grace - the best possible gift we could receive.

When I realize that it is not God who is in my debt but I who am in His great debt, then doesn't all become gift?

We should be praising God and thanking Him all the day long for the precious gift of His grace, for the life He has given us. God owes us nothing, absolutely nothing. He made us. He gave us life. He gives us each day. We owe Him EVERYTHING for this gift He has given us.

May we recall that it is not us who God is indebted to, but us who are indebted to God. May we seek to thank Him for each day, and his precious gift of grace.

God bless!