It has been a year since we started our mission in the mountains of Mindanao, in the Philippines. One of the primary activities we engage in, besides providing nutritious meals to children every Saturday, is offering them spiritual nourishment by teaching them about the Word of God. Our heartfelt desire is that even at a young age, they will come to know the Lord through His Word and, in turn, be able to introduce the gospel to their tribesmen in their native language. How wonderful it would be to hear praises, thanksgiving, and songs of the Lord’s mercy and grace echoing in these lush mountains.
In one of the sessions we conducted with the children, the teacher raised a question to gauge their understanding of the word "grace". As I heard that question, I thought to myself, grace is unmerited favour, and I began recalling all the passages in the Bible that speak about the grace of God, especially from the letters of the Apostle Paul, who is often called the apostle of grace. One of these, and probably the most prominent for me, is Ephesians 2:8: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…” Another is from 2 Corinthians 12:9: ‘But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’ Suddenly, it dawned on me how accustomed I had become to hearing the word grace. How many of us go through our daily lives, often taking God’s grace for granted in so many ways? One example might be living as if we have everything under control and relying on the many backup plans we have in place when things go awry. How dissatisfied can we become if we believe that we have the ability on our own to find effective solutions, especially in challenging situations? We rely too much on strategy, and when things don’t go well, it must be someone else’s fault. This attitude is far from growing in grace (2 Peter 3:18).
What struck me the most during that memorable session with the Lumad children was when one of them answered with the word "Rest". For this 10-year-old child, who came from a Muslim background and began attending Bible study with us a year ago, rest is God’s grace. To have a place to sleep with four walls and a roof for her working parents to rest within must be God’s grace. To grow crops and plant trees to have food to eat and not be anxious for the day is rest, and must be God’s grace. And most especially, to go on with their lives despite the grief from the tragic death of one of her siblings who died from a violent conflict last year, she’s probably realising that there is rest in God’s grace.
All these led me to think of the many privileges I have in this life. This past year has been quite a journey, not only for the children we serve but also for us as we learn and grow in grace alongside them. The simple yet profound understanding of grace from a child’s perspective reminded me of the many forms that God's grace can take in our lives. I keep in mind that it is through the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ that this grace is made available to me, undeserving as I am. His death and resurrection have opened the way for us to receive God's grace freely, transforming our lives and giving us hope that transcends our earthly circumstances. Whether it is physical rest, emotional healing, or spiritual growth, grace manifests in ways that continually surprise and humble us. As we continue our mission, we hold onto these lessons, grateful for the opportunity to serve and be served.
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