An Invitation

But, this just couldn’t be the right place.

I glanced down at the invitation that I clutched in my hand. I scanned past the words, “Come as you are. No jacket required.” and found the location.

Yes, I was at the right place.

I peered through the window again and saw a room of people whose faces seemed to glow with joy. All were neatly dressed, adorned in fine garments and appeared strangely clean as they dined at this exquisite restaurant. Ashamed, I looked down at my own tattered and torn clothing, covered in stains. I was dirty, in fact, filthy. A foul smell seemed to consume me

and I couldn’t shake the grime that clung to my body.

I turned around to leave, the words from the invitation seemed to leap out at me… “Come as you are. No jacket required.”

I decided to give it a shot.

Mustering up every bit of courage I could find, I opened the door to this restaurant and walked up to a man standing behind a podium. “Your name, sir?” he asked me with a smile. I mumbled my name without looking up. I thrust my hands deep into my pockets,

hoping to conceal their stains.

He didn’t seem to notice the filth that I was covered in and he continued, “Very good, Sir. A table is reserved in your name. Would you like to be seated?” I couldn’t believe what I heard! A grin broke out on my face and I said,

“Yes, of course!”

He led me to a table and, sure enough, there was a place card with my name written on it in a deep, dark red. As I browsed over a menu, I saw many delightful items listed. There were things like, “peace,” “joy,” “blessings,” “confidence,” “assurance, ” “hope,” “love,” “faith,” and “mercy.”

I realized that this was no ordinary restaurant!

I flipped the menu back to the front in order to see where I was at… “God’s Grace”

was the name of this place!

the links as the mouse moves over it.