Hallmark Inspiration: Discovering Your Grace-filled Moments

Public confession:  I like Hallmark Movies. 

I know, shocking.  Many of you would never admit this in public, but because I believe I am not alone in my choice of entertainment, I have dared to come forward.  Yes, Hallmark movies are filled with platitudes, cheesy sentiment and formulaic, but still, I cannot resist.

There have been one or two, I must admit, that were too over-the-top even for me, but give me a night with a bowl of popcorn and a need to zone out, and I’m there.  I will even further confess that some of them I have watched more than once (don’t hate me for it.)

One platitude I made a note of most recently came from one of their movies titled Royal Hearts.  I’ll save you a synopsis of the movie (which you probably have seen a million times in one formula or another), except to say that one of the main characters—a cowboy who inherited a castle (yeah, I know)—said, “Life can be easier if you just plow around the stumps.”

Hmm, I had to think about that one.  Does that mean you avoid the tough stuff in life, or does it mean you work your way around all of the obstacles in your path?  And is it an “easy” life that is our goal?

It is possible I may be totally over-thinking this (it’s Hallmark after all), but what do you think it means to “plow around the stumps” on your way through life?

And about the “easier” comment—one thing I am quite sure of, is, when I go back to passages I have read in scripture, if we look at the life of Christ, easy is not our goal.  He didn’t take the easy way out.

Now that doesn’t mean we have to go looking for trouble, of course; an occasional break from life’s struggles can be very welcome.  But when trouble comes, we believe that God is walking with us through it, which means facing obstacles (i.e. “stumps”) can actually be grace-filled moments.

Through—within—grace-filled moments in life, we can see most clearly the presence of God working in our lives.

I hope in whatever you may be facing today, that you are comforted in the knowledge that our heavenly Father who loves us deeply, is walking with you.

God bless,

Janet Cassidy

Janetcassidy.com