I’ve often written about how grace has played such a big role in my life – saving from the consequences of very wrong choices.
Every day, I’m more convinced that grace is the glue that holds me together.
This is a story from a few years ago, but it’s true and well worth repeating.
Julio Diaz has a daily routine. Every night, the 31-year-old social worker ends his hour-long subway commute to the Bronx one stop early, just so he can eat at his favorite diner.
But one night last month, as Diaz stepped off the No. 6 train and onto a nearly empty platform, his evening took an unexpected turn.
He was walking toward the stairs when a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife.
“He wants my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, ‘Here you go,'” Diaz says.
As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, “Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you’re going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm.”
The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, “like what’s going on here?” Diaz says. “He asked me, ‘Why are you doing this?'”
Diaz replied: “If you’re willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then I guess you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me … hey, you’re more than welcome.
“You know, I just felt maybe he really needs help,” Diaz says.
Diaz says he and the teen went into the diner and sat in a booth.
“The manager comes by, the dishwashers come by, the waiters come by to say hi,” Diaz says. “The kid was like, ‘You know everybody here. Do you own this place?'”
“No, I just eat here a lot,” Diaz says he told the teen. “He says, ‘But you’re even nice to the dishwasher.'”
Diaz replied, “Well, haven’t you been taught you should be nice to everybody?”
“Yea, but I didn’t think people actually behaved that way,” the teen said.
Diaz asked him what he wanted out of life. “He just had almost a sad face,” Diaz says.
The teen couldn’t answer Diaz — or he didn’t want to.
When the bill arrived, Diaz told the teen, “Look, I guess you’re going to have to pay for this bill ’cause you have my money and I can’t pay for this. So if you give me my wallet back, I’ll gladly treat you.”
The teen “didn’t even think about it” and returned the wallet, Diaz says. “I gave him $20 … I figure maybe it’ll help him. I don’t know.”
Diaz says he asked for something in return — the teen’s knife — “and he gave it to me.”
via NPR
Grace has been the glue for me
For some reason this story made me think of my life and how God gave me several opportunities to turn myself around. I’m glad that like the teenage boy, I finally took them.
But grace is a not a one time happening. For me, it’s a constant. Constantly shedding light on dark areas of my life and giving me the strength to work on these areas. Some days are harder than others. But His grace is sufficient for me. Graceful living, I call it.
“Man is born broken. He lives by mending. The grace of God is glue.”
― Eugene O’Neill
Do you depend on grace too?
That’s a beautiful story, and a lovely reminder, really, on how to look at adversity. I do believe in grace – in being given multiple chances, in recognizing them and taking them and turning my life around.
I had no doubt that you did, MG. Realizing that we’ve been given another chance and moving forward is really what life is all about. Thank you for sharing.
What a story. Would I have the courage to do something like this? I do wonder (and would love to know) if this act made a difference in the teen’s life. I would like to hope it did, and it’s a perfect story for Humans of New York to check out.
It took courage for sure. I too would love to see a follow up story on this, Alana.
The story left me teary eyed.. It is brave and kind of him to do so.. so thoughtful too..
It is a wonderful story. But that’s how grace operates – giving us another chance to make things right.
Sounds like a modern parable from the Gospel. I hope I never forget the difference the grace of God has made in my life. His mercies are new every morning.
It does, doesn’t it, Dorothy?
This was a wonderful post. I wouldn’t even be here, alive, if it were not for the grace (and mercy) of God!
Thank you, Nan. Me too, me too!