Gift of Grace

When I went off to college, I had never set foot on the campus of Winthrop College until the day I moved in over 40 years ago. Back then you didn’t go visit a bunch of colleges before you applied. You just applied to the one that fit your needs and went. It was for 4 years and I loved every minute of it but have had no desire to ever repeat. I had never been away from home for more than a few days, so it was totally frightening and exhilarating at the same time. I could tell you hundreds of stories of events and craziness that went on but instead I want to tell you about Eunice and Grace.

Eunice (a.k.a Jill F. at the time) was one of the first girls I met other than my roommate, who shall remain nameless. We just hit it off. She was big city girl and I was little country mouse. We nicknamed each other. She was Eunice and I was Grace. Go ahead and laugh. Graceful I am not. Her family became my family and my family became hers. I taught her to drive a stick shift on the farm and Bulldog and Mama Farr took me on my first camping trip. I’ve been hooked ever since. Now let’s just jump ahead a few years.

We both graduated and then married and moved to our own little parts of the state of South Carolina. Eunice finally got pregnant and had a baby girl born with spinabifida, a hole in her spine. My nickname may have been Grace but Jill was the embodiment of grace. She was told that her beautiful blonde baby probably wouldn’t live past the age of 16. The little “Princess” turned 29 this year! Jill and her husband Gregg have devoted their entire existence to caring for and loving this child. God’s grace and mercy kept her smallish so that she could be managed at home. The Princess’ mental abilities were that of a child. A child that never seems to complain and always has a smile for you. When I think of Jill I see a woman of Godliness, tirelessness, and inexhaustible in her daily life. Did I mention she was an elementary teacher? Her crown will be so full one day. Again, God’s grace provided schools and employers that allowed her to be with her daughter through many hospitalizations. Her husband, sister, and work family are her support system. She lost both of her parents early on in her marriage. Bulldog, a train engineer, died of cancer before he could see his granddaughter. Mama Farr did get to see her granddaughter but also passed away from health issues when the Princess was young.

Through Jill (a.k.a. Eunice) and her family, I learned why handicap spaces are so important. I learned that going to friend’s house for supper was not usually an option because most houses are NOT handicap accessible. Going on vacation requires a master’s degree in seeking and finding hospitable places that truly are handicap accessible. Going out for a date night requires finding a trained healthcare worker (her sister and best friend got trained) to stay with the Princess. Simple outings like running to the grocery store are not simple when you have to manage an electric wheelchair in the process. But God! God’s grace is ever-present in their lives. You can’t help but see it.

To this day when I think of God’s Grace, I think of my friend, not my nickname. She was a gift 40 years ago and still is today. Acts 20:24 says, “But, I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.” Jill and Gregg are a living testament. “John 1:16, for from his fullness, we have all received grace upon grace.” When we go out and about, do others see God’s grace in us? Just something to think about. Give thanks to God for ALL of his grace and mercy that is freely poured out to us on a daily basis. And they did it all in a house divided…She’s a Tiger and he’s a Gamecock. The perfect pairing.