YOUR NAME
Today's reading: 1 Samuel 1-5

"Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Penninah. Penninah had children, while Hannah did not." 1 Samuel 1:2 NLT

I really thought God was speaking to me through this verse this morning about comparisons. As in, Some have ____, some do not have ____.

Then, I looked up the meaning of the names of Elkanah's wives...

Penninah means 'jewel'. Fitting, I thought, as she was the golden fertile girl of the family. The giver of life to all of their family heirs. The one, who in that day and time, was fulfilling her purpose as a woman. The one who had it all, in the eyes of the woman of the neighborhood--and I am sure of Hannah.

What changed my thinking was looking up Hannah's name.

Hannah means 'grace'. Grace is a virtue coming only from God. Unmerited favor. Approval.

Grace is above and beyond comparison to any jewel.

Grace outshines the largest and clearest diamond.

Grace touches more lives than any sparkling gem.

Grace comes from God, not from the earth.

Grace directs our focus on God while a jewel catches our eye for its beauty.

Maybe I don't have what all the other gals have, but if I have grace, I have it all!