When the stories with varying levels of grace are juxtaposed like they are in the storybook, it truly highlights the role that grace plays. I will go into detail on two stories that are in the storybook and elaborate on the role grace plays for each.
The Ingrates
In this story, there is a man, a snake, and a fox. The man helps the snake from under a rock, but then the serpent wants to eat the man. They both inquire with others what is right, and the fox basically tricks the snake back under the rock and all is how it started. Now, instead of thanking or repaying the fox for saving his life, the man ends up killing the fox. The moral of that story being that evil is repaid to those who do good. Basically, this story lacks grace. You know how when you are eating something while on the beach, at some point you accidentally get a few grains of sand in your mouth and you are left with it grinding in the teeth? That is how I felt at the end of this story. Where is the redemption?
The Story of Crivoliu
In this story, a brother and a sister end up having a son together and he ends up being raised in a different place. At some point he finds out how he was conceived and pays his penance for his parents sin. Long story short, he ends up becoming pope. Later, his parents come and confess their sins to the pope. Instead if being bitter, he forgives them and they all lived happily ever after. In other words, full of grace. You know how you feel on a hot summer day when your mom pulls out a sleeve of frozen iced pops and that sweet, frozen nectar hits your hot tongue? That's refreshing, just like this story.
Both of these stories, grace plays a role. I think to me I realized that we all in some form or fashion long for redemption, and that comes through grace. I find both stories equally entertaining, but I truly enjoy when grace is present. It also reminds me to show grace as often as possible!
Image Credit: NBC News
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