I’m stricken by the love (grace) from GMC people.

After being so wounded and disappointed by pastors/“fellowships” in the past, it’s hard for me to grasp that kind of love; to believe that this is true. Tears are falling from my heart as I’m thinking and writing this about you.
Sometimes I think of some of those moments that I spent with you GMC, or some of the things that you’ve said to me…I’m in awe! GMC, you are like oil to my wounds that God wants heal.
Sometimes I want to pull back from you; to not get so attached. I begin to think that I’m not worthy of all that love; that I don’t deserve it; that I haven’t earned it; or that it’s too good to be true.

I’ve been, and I am, touched by grace.

Whether by the way you give the announcements or pray in such a brotherly, sincere and humble manner.
When you are so faithful to your task of leading the whole congregation to the throne room through worship (even if it asks of you to wake up at 6:30am every Sunday).
When you so genuinely invite me to take part in a small group (even if it’s only once a month or once every 3 month) just for the sake of getting to know me.
When you give me lifts back home, and stay a little longer to finish the conversation.
When you invite me for coffee just so we can “hang out” and even after 4 hours of chatting, you still invite me for dinner.
When you share with me and others ALL of your love and your Australian accent although you know that you are here for a couple of months (4 months actually).
When you offer your place for a Christmas party, after a long week of work and all you would like to do is to crash and sleep.
When you choose the best gift you would like to receive for yourself but that you offer it for a game.
When you encourage questioning, encouraging, and critical thinking through sermon discussion in a freezing basement.
When you help me understand an English word by its synonym or by translating it to French.
When you are a ‘foodie’ and want others to try this new place you’ve found.
When you dare to dream, and share your dream.
When you dare to kneel in worship.
When you simply take care of the technical aspects like the power point and sound systems.
When you bake cookies with sprinkles just for the sake of sharing them.
When you encourage me to join the choir, and rebuke me for being late.
When you keep announcing and helping at the Great Shepherd; you let me translate at your place because I’m better at it than you are.
When you (finally) give birth to this wonderful child.
When you open the door of the car for me; close it after me and wait to leave with me.
When you suggest to me some books that you’ve read.
When you check up on me through Charlene because you didn’t see me on Sunday.
When you hold my hand for so long as to an old friend.
When you give me a smile for the first time after 2.5 months.
When you sing “Wall-ee” as a way to convince me to hang out longer with everybody.
When you are being so critical about food yet loving to eat.
When your smile is so big that we barely see your eyes.
When you lead the small group so well that Charlene gives me constant feedback from it.
When you take care of the 2 or 3 kids through Sunday school.
When you share with us your success of passing the bar exam.
When you pull together a choir that will perform in a week and you join us with your angelic voice.
When I can be sure that you’ll respond my email in the next 24 hrs and that I’ll get weekly news as anybody being part of the church.
When you ask me to pray for you in the preparation of the sermon.
When you greet me although it’s your first visit at church.
When you keep the website updated, and even comment on my facebook pictures.
When you ask about my family.
When you hug me as a greeting on Sunday and even when we meet on a Saturday morning in the metro station.
When you bike to meet me for that ONE box for Operation Christmas Child.
When you let me take your cup of water although you are quite thirsty.
When you trust me in attending this church that you’ve never heard about and you keep inviting other of your friends too.
When you sweep the floor as it were a five-star hotel.
When you lose your voice but share the most during sermon discussion about your humbling experience of the week.
When you confess out loud that you need to confess.
When you think out loud.
When you laugh at and with me.
When you lead praise for the first time.
When you thank me for stacking chairs or lighting a candle.
By being You: not perfect but true.

All of those – and even more – you give to me as the greatest gift of love that I could receive. All of this you don’t force or do out of an agenda.
All of those things you often take for granted.
All of this seems to you quite normal, natural, almost nothing.
All of you mean so much to me; more that I can explain, express or even sometimes understand.
For all of you I am thankful.
I can see Christ in you.
You exude love.

I am touched by grace: an unmerited, underserved and unearned favour.

Merry Christmas.

Cynthia