“Living in a state of gratitude is the gateway to grace.
—Ariana Huffington

This morning I woke to a simple but surprising blessing. A friend called and asked, “What’s for breakfast?” I admitted I had nothing in the house. Without hesitation he replied, “I’ll be passing your way in ten minutes.”

True to his word, he arrived with a small grocery bag of goodness: pumpkin, potato, broccoli, onions, saltfish, an avocado—and a warm bowl of soup.

That unexpected visit brought me to today’s reflection.

How wonderful it is that God knows His children and provides exactly when we need it. Grace is often defined as kindness or mercy freely given, and I’ve experienced it in ways that words can hardly capture.

For weeks I had been struggling silently. Many nights I woke at 2:30 a.m., my heart heavy, my mind restless. I would lie in bed, praying, listening for the still, small voice of God. Some mornings I cried, telling Him exactly how I felt. The weight on my heart only grew, but somehow I kept moving through my days, working as if nothing was wrong.

The truth is, I don’t hide pain well. Friends can tell when something is off; my face gives everything away. Over the past six years I’ve hit rock bottom more than once, always finding the strength to get up, dust myself off, and carry on. But this time was different. My body said no. I couldn’t bounce back the way I used to.

Instead of forcing a comeback, I chose to sit with the feeling. The load I was carrying became so heavy that I finally sought professional help. Through counseling I’m learning to be kinder to myself, to honor my emotions instead of outrunning them. Writing my thoughts down instead of letting them swirl in my head has become a lifeline. Journaling helps me see possibilities instead of only problems, and to embrace even the disappointments as part of God’s larger puzzle.

As humans we are not perfect. We may not always see the reason behind a disappointment, but if we take time to reflect and accept, a light will eventually flicker on and reveal the lesson. Today, after receiving this small package of grace, I’m reminded how thankful I should be. God never gives us more than we can bear, and He is always on time—not always when we want it. Just as He provides for the fish of the sea and the fowl of the air, He places good people in our lives to provide for us too.

So be humble. Be thankful. And never forget that someone else is carrying a heavier burden than yours. Even if you don’t have enough money at times to buy food or pay every bill, you are not broke and you are not poor. You are moving through a phase of life that is trying to teach you something. Sit with it. Ask what you are meant to learn. You will not stay there forever, because joy comes in the morning.

Give thanks for a little, and you will discover a lot. Acknowledging the good you already have is the foundation of all abundance.

This morning I woke with no food to eat. Tonight I have enough for at least four days. For that, I thank God for continually being my never-ending, unfailing source of everything.

Grace may not remove the struggle, but it gives strength to endure—and to rise. And sometimes it arrives disguised as a friend with a bowl of soup.