A few months ago, we got to attend a show written and directed by our talented brother-in-law Jimmy DeVita. It was called “The Gift of the Magi.” He took a two-page story written by O. Henry about a young married couple and how they deal with a challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money, and he adapted it into a two-hour musical.
The climax of the show is when the husband is really depressed, realizing he may not afford to get his wife a Christmas gift. A fiddler cheers him up and sings a heartfelt song with the lyrics “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” Jimmy explained it later that it was a complicated scene to write. They didn’t want to imply that God was getting in the way of him buying his wife a gift. But rather, he could just as easily be in a worse situation.
The phrase was originally credited to a preacher, John Bradford, who uttered the words when seeing criminals being led to their death. But the source has never been confirmed.
I was taken aback by the use of this phrase in the show. I heard it a few years ago in a speech, and it just stuck with me—It could always be worse, and it can happen to anyone. To me, it's a reminder to be grateful for what you have in life because it can change in a blink of an eye.
A few days later, we invited Chris’ parents over to our house. Chris was playing a game of Cribbage with his dad. Laurie won several games in a row. And then he said, “But it all could have gone another way. It’s how the cards are cut. One cut differently and Chris would have won.” I love Laurie's humble approach. Because it means the opposite of my quote is also true. When things go well, it's not always because we are the better players in life. Sometimes it just happens.
There, but for the grace of God, go I.
The phrase was originally credited to a preacher, John Bradford, who uttered the words when seeing criminals being led to their death. But the source has never been confirmed.
I was taken aback by the use of this phrase in the show. I heard it a few years ago in a speech, and it just stuck with me—It could always be worse, and it can happen to anyone. To me, it's a reminder to be grateful for what you have in life because it can change in a blink of an eye.
A few days later, we invited Chris’ parents over to our house. Chris was playing a game of Cribbage with his dad. Laurie won several games in a row. And then he said, “But it all could have gone another way. It’s how the cards are cut. One cut differently and Chris would have won.” I love Laurie's humble approach. Because it means the opposite of my quote is also true. When things go well, it's not always because we are the better players in life. Sometimes it just happens.
There, but for the grace of God, go I.
Grace
Given, Priceless
Learning its Beauty
We all Deserve it
Peace
Given, Priceless
Learning its Beauty
We all Deserve it
Peace