From Hope Valley (Week 12): The Blessing of Graceful Truth

One of my favorite parts of the 4th episode in Season 1 were the words that Elizabeth wrote in her journal. There is such a simple yet deep truth that is conveyed here, the reality that the truth isn't always what may appear right in front of us in black and white. In recognizing this we find a precious blessing, a blessing that only can come from discovering graceful truth. In learning this we truly see that sometimes love can come just in time to save our lives. 

I think that this episode spoke to me in deep ways because I have always been a person who has deeply valued truth. Truth in telling the correct facts, truth in sharing the exact true order of events, and truth that is black and white before us with no gray areas. This episode though has made me stop and ponder truth in a deeper and more rich way. 

The beauty of truth where grace exists. 

Truth that is allowed to speak freely of pain that we hold deep in our wounded hearts that we don't hide behind the insistence that we are "fine". Truth that goes beyond the pretty social media pictures that show a highlight reel that doesn't include pain. Truth that can be expressed and where it is met with grace that brings about a redemptive story of healing and love. In this type of beautiful, graceful truth, love can and will come just in time to save your life.

Recently a friend was sharing with me the heartbreak of losing a friendship that they had thought would last a lifetime. She shared that this relationship that had undergone some deep and difficult changes and instead of being a redemptive place, the friendship turned into a place of deep hurt. I know that my friend is not alone in experiencing the heartbreak of lost friendships and broken relationships that exist in this world. I have heard from so many hearties that wish that they could live in Hope Valley with good and deep friendships. I understand. I really do. This past year I have experienced a loss of a friendship that I held quite dear and it was incredibly painful. It was a friendship that I believed would be for a lifetime and when this person left our friendship it was incredibly painful. In these types of relationships, where we have dared to risk and share our precious hearts only to have things end, it can be tender to think that we will ever experience friendship that is built on graceful truth.

But the truth is where grace and love exist, where trust is the foundation of friendships, and where we love and listen with our hearts we find true love in friendship. We find that looking beneath the "fineness" to a deeper existence and one that can bring a beauty of love that can save our lives. We find that creating a safe space for those who encounter our hearts to come and receive grace is one of the biggest blessings of love that we can pour out to the world.

I know that I am not alone in my admiration for the friendship between Abigail and Elizabeth that exists on the show. I have heard so many different hearties express that they long for a close friendship like this one. I have been so blessed to have several close friends who are my "Abigail's and Elizabeth's" in my life. As I think about the way that Abigail and Elizabeth's friendship has evolved over the course of the last four seasons I think one of the most beautiful redemptive things is the story of grace and truth that is offered within their friendship. Their friendship ebbs and flows out of graceful truth being the foundation for their friendship and this encourages and allows truth to be spoken. In doing so, in having this foundation, we have seen many times love coming to save their lives. 

In this same way, in my deepest and truest friendships I see that when these same principles are modeled there is a beautiful blessing of graceful truth that exists. It changes me deeply and in turn I can offer even more freely to the world around me graceful truth and love. It truly has a ripple effect, not just on me, but on my community. 

At the core, Elizabeth was right. Love does often come just in time to save our lives. Today, let's build into the friendships that God has placed before us friendships centered on God's grace, tenderness, and trust. Let us have the courage to work to create spaces of truthful grace in the midst of each of our relationships. In doing so, we will be blessed with the most beautiful thing- the blessing of graceful truth which will spread over into every corner of our lives, allowing love to come in time to save our lives. 

"The truth will set you free..."
-John 8:32-
Looking for past From Hope Valley Devotionals? You can click HERE to find a complete listing of all of the devotionals! 
I receive several emails a week asking where you can watch older episodes of "When Calls the Heart". If you have a Netflix account you can find seasons 1-3 there or you can purchase them on Amazon. You can purchase and watch all of the seasons and episodes by clicking on the links below:When Calls the Heart, Season 1When Calls the Heart, Season 2When Calls the Heart, Season 3When Calls the Heart, Season 4 (All of the episodes from the Season are now available on Amazon for purchase.)
*Please note that the quotes used in these weekly devotionals are the sole intellectual property of Hallmark Channel, WCTH, & Crown Media, LLC. These on-line posts are in no way supported, endorsed or affiliated with WCTH, Hallmark Channel, or Crown Media. They are simply encouragement inspired by Janette Oke and this precious show.*