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When the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and were persuading them to continue in the grace of God. (Acts 13:43)

Paul and Barnabas let the flow of grace carry them toward God. They knew that to go back to the 613 laws of the Torah was to get beached in the gravel of self effort. They pled with their converts to continue in the middle of the river of grace.

I, too, wanted my life to float in the depths of grace, and yet, there were hazards—shallows of doubt, and boulders of temptation. Proper navigation was no simple task. I needed a mentor, someone further along in the faith to guide me into the free current.

By instinct, I knew what a mentor in grace would look like. A person of grace would open their heart wide. They wouldn’t be condescending, but would rest in the power of the Spirit. A person of grace would love animals, and be kind to enemies. Their life would be free of worldly ambition, and refreshingly content. They would laugh, and have smiles for everybody.

Where was I to find such a person, one who modeled the inner beauty of grace? The leaders I knew were stuck with me in ankle deep water.

Then it hit me. Most any young child could demonstrate grace. I read back over the qualifications and, yes, a child would do nicely.

Prayer: Jesus, make me a trusting, laughing, childlike person of grace.