The boy stood with back arched,
head cocked back and hands clenched defiantly.
"Go ahead, give it to me."
The principal looked down at the young rebel.
"How many times have you been here?"
The child sneered rebelliously, "Apparently not enough."
The principal gave the boy a strange look.
"And you have been punished each time have you not?"
"Yeah, I been punished, if that's what you want to call it."
He threw out his small chest,
"Go ahead I can take whatever you dish out. I always have."
"And no thought of your punishment enters your head
the next time you decide to break the rules does it?"
"Nope, I do whatever I want to do.
Ain't nothin you people gonna do to stop me either."
The principal looked over at the teacher who stood nearby.
"What did he do this time?"
"Fighting. He took little Tommy and shoved his face into the sandbox."
The principal turned to look at the boy,
"Why? What did little Tommy do to you?"
"Nothin, I didn't like the way he was lookin at me, just
like I don't like the way your lookin at me!
And if I thought I could do it, I'd shove your face into something."
The teacher stiffened and started to rise but a
quick look from the principal stopped him.
He contemplated the child for a moment and then quietly said,
"Today my young student, is the day you learn about grace."
"Grace?"
"Isn't that what you old people do before you sit down to eat?"
"I don't need none of your stinkin grace."
"Oh but you do." The principal studied the young mans face and whispered."
"Oh yes, you truly do..."
The boy continued to glare as the principal continued,
"Grace, in its short definition is unmerited favor.
You cannot earn it, it is a gift and is always freely given.
It means that you will not be getting what you so richly deserve."
The boy looked puzzled.
"Your not gonna whoop me?"
"You just gonna let me walk?"
The principal looked down at the unyielding child.
"Yes, I am going to let you walk."
The boy studied the face of the principal,
"No punishment at all?" "Even though I socked Tommy and shoved his face into the sandbox?"
"Oh, there has to be punishment."
"What you did was wrong and there are always consequences to our actions."
"There will be punishment."
"Grace is not an excuse for doing wrong."
"I knew it," Sneered the boy as he held out his hands.
"Lets get on with it."
The principal nodded toward the teacher.
"Bring me the belt."
The teacher presented the belt to the principal.
He carefully folded it in two and then handed it back to the teacher.
He looked at the child and said.
"I want you to count the blows."
He slid out from behind his desk and walked over
to stand directly in front of the young man.
He gently reached out and folded the child's
outstretched, expectant hands together and then turned
to face the teacher with his own hands outstretched.
One quiet word came forth from his mouth.
"Begin."
The belt whipped down on the outstretched hands of the principal.
Crack!
The young man jumped ten feet in the air.
Shock registered across his face,
"One" he whispered.
Crack! "Two."
His voice raised an octave.
Crack! "Three..."
He couldn't believe this.
Crack! "Four."
Big tears welled up in the eyes of the rebel.
"OK stop!
That's enough. Stop!"
Crack!
Came the belt down on the callused hands of the principal.
Crack!
The child flinched with each blow,
tears beginning to stream down his face.
Crack!
Crack!
"No please",
the former rebel begged,
"Stop, I did it, I'm the one who deserves it.
Stop! Please. Stop..."
Still the blows came,
Crack! Crack!
One after another.
Finally it was over.
The principal stood with sweat glistening across his
forehead and beads trickling down his face.
Slowly he knelt down.
He studied the young man for a second
and then his swollen hands reached out to cradle
the face of the weeping child.
"Grace..."

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of the only Living God I pray: Thank you Father for your grace, your unmerited favor. It never ends Father and I am so grateful. Father, when I think of how great you are and what Love was demonstrated through the death of Jesus I am in total awe. The sacrifice that was made for us... I can only say thank you and in light of you Lord, it just does not seem to be enough. I love you so very much! Father, that grace that was shown ... help us Holy Spirit to know what that means to us. Help us, teach us Holy Spirit to know that this grace is daily as your mercies are. That when we "blow it" in the flesh that all we have to do is come before our Father God, and ask for forgiveness, for the Word says He is faithful and just ... He forgives... He forgives as far as the East is to the West ... our sins are buried in the sea of forgetfulness. Thank you Father for this grace. Thank you that as we come to you and ask for that forgiveness You see us through the redeeming blood of Jesus, the price was paid Father, not only for us to have the ultimate, which is salvation unto heaven but also Lord that we do not have to pay for our shortcomings. We are under Grace therefore Lord, with the request for forgiveness and true sincere repentance... We walk Victorious in Christ Jesus. Father, in Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the anointed one) name I ask for all that read this prayer to be given a hunger for you greater than we've ever known. Father send your precious Holy Spirit to teach us what this grace means and who we are in Christ. Father, as we read your Word allow it to become alive within us. Father, as we take one step toward you ... You take three toward us... I just know it! And I thank you. I thank you that you are a rewarder of those that diligently seek you. Thank you Lord for the grace we have been given. I love you and I give you praise and glory and honor, for you are Great, and Mighty and Holy, and worthy of praise. You are truly the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The Love of our lives, the best friend we have ... we need you Lord ... we seek your face ... all your mercy and your grace ... to do your will is our desire ... to Love you more is our hearts cry. Thank you again Father for allowing me to come boldly before your throne of grace. I speak this prayer Father confident that you have heard me ... for I pray according to your Word ... with no doubt and no unforgiveness in my heart... I thank you that your promises... Your Word ... is yes and amen. And that you are not a man that you can lie. That you are God almighty the creator of heaven and earth. I pray this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, my savior! I Love you!

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