John 1:16 – Grits with Grace

food, Grace, life, money, priorities, Scripture, thankful

Buyer’s Remorse

Posted on May 29, 2025May 26, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” John 1:16

I wish I hadn’t—but I did. Buyer’s remorse. The official definition is, “a feeling of regret experienced after making a purchase, typically one regarded as unnecessary or extravagant.” I guess most of us have experienced it at one time or another. Sometimes it is a minor deal. You buy something from Walmart, get home, think about it and decide you really didn’t need it. So, thanks to Walmart’s generous return policy, you lay it aside and the next time you are at the store, you simply return it. No harm, no foul.

Then sometimes it isn’t quite the easy. You are at the grocery store and your “you need to watch your diet” wife is out of town. Smile. So, as you wind your way through the various aisles of calorie rich delights, you find yourself on the cookie aisle. The packages are calling your name and you say, “Why not?” Because you can’t decide you buy two and since your “you need to watch your diet” wife is not around, you eat both. As the last cookie of package number two slips past your lips, you realize you probably shouldn’t have bought two, or maybe even one, and you have a sense of remorse…diet remorse and buyer’s remorse. Still, no big deal. You wait 24 hours and don’t have a heart attack and hide the packages deep in the trash. No harm, no foul.

There are times when the fix is reclusive, and the consequences are bigger than an expanded waistline. Twice, not once, I have bought new cars that I later regretted. You know, you visit the lot, you see the car, you smell the car, you buy the car. You feel important driving it and watch as people watch you driving it. And then it happens. A couple of payments down the road of too much debt and not enough payday, you get it. Major, big time buyer’s remorse. And this time, there is not a Walmart return policy, and the ouch is bigger than you ever imagined. This time…well, it is certainly not “no harm, no foul.”

Yup, most of us have slipped on that banana peel. The important thing is to learn. Now, I have learned about the car thing…at least I think I have but the cookie thing…well, that is still a work in progress. Smile. And judging from the past, it might be a long, long road. You might be wondering, “Is there anyone who hasn’t experienced buyer’s remorse?” The answer is yes and the who might surprise you. That Who is God.

I’ve always been amazed with God. He is so generous, so loving, and so kind. He always goes the extra mile to show me that He is for me and not against me. His patience with this slower learner causes me to wonder how He could not regret loving me. But here is the deal…and don’t miss this. God loved me enough to send His Son to a rugged, cruel cross to pay the payment for my sin. I didn’t deserve it and honestly no one does. But it gets better. He did that knowing that I wouldn’t always get it right. He did it knowing I would often get it wrong. But it gets better.

Here it is. Not once in the past, no once today, not once tomorrow, not once for the zillion years of eternity yet to come will He ever have buyer’s remorse. He made the deal and not once regretted making it. How is that even possible? How is that even conceivable? Well, the answer is that God not only loves me, He also loves us. Perfectly. In other words, He loves us looking through the lens of His perfect Son. Instead of seeing warts, He sees us whole and perfect. Oh, not that we are, not that we ever will be…at least here. No, it’s all because of His grace and His Son and His sacrifice for us.

So, today, be careful as you cruise the aisles of Walmart…and life. You might want to avoid the cookie aisle and ice cream freezers of life…things that tend to lead to regret and consequences. But by all means, be sure and linger in the grace aisle and take in the wonder of it all. As you look at all the packages of love and love notes from the One who loves you most, remember what John wrote, “From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” And if you do happen to slip up, don’t worry. He won’t change His mind about you. After all, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

fear, forgiveness, friends, Grace, life, loving others, Scripture, travel, Trials

She Just Wasn’t Herself

Posted on January 27, 2025January 23, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16

She just wasn’t herself. Several years ago, we spent a few days in Panama City Beach on Florida’s Gulf Coast. We were lucky enough to have a condo right on the beach, five stories up. The view and the sound of the Gulf were absolutely amazing. We’ve been here many times, but this trip felt different.

See, I was raised on the East Coast of Florida, where the Atlantic Ocean is. The water there is kind of grey, always moving, with waves constantly crashing toward the shore. But the Gulf? It’s usually a lot calmer, with that smooth, bluish-green water. It’s beautiful, especially in the winter. Even though the water’s too cold for me to swim in, I never get tired of looking at it. But this time? Something was off.

Right from the start, the Gulf was much more stirred up than usual. The waves were big and constant, crashing in one after the other. The red flag flying on the pole said, “Stay out of the water,” and honestly, you didn’t need the flag to know that. The ocean was rough, and the sky was filled with grey clouds that matched the color of the water. It was like the Gulf just wasn’t herself. Something had her worked up. What was it? I don’t know, but she was definitely off her game.

But here’s the strange part: even though the Gulf wasn’t acting like herself, it was still beautiful. There was something powerful and majestic about those waves, and it reminded me that nature, in all its wildness, is still part of a bigger plan. Even though things weren’t calm, I knew that I’d be back here again someday—and the Gulf would calm down too. The rough waters didn’t change the fact that this was just a moment in time.

That got me thinking about us. We all have our days, don’t we? Times when we’re not ourselves, when we’re not calm or peaceful, but instead feel like we’re struggling, all stirred up inside. And, just like the Gulf, we might not even know why we’re feeling that way. We might not be able to explain it. People who see us from the outside might notice that we’re not our usual selves, but we’re the ones in the middle of the storm, feeling all the turbulence. Hopefully, it’ll pass, and things will settle down again.

So, what do we do when we come across someone who’s acting like the turbulent Gulf? I think the answer is simple: we show them grace. Grace is God’s unearned favor, and He gives it to us freely. And because we’ve received so much grace from Him, we’re called to extend it to others. As John puts it, “For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” Jesus was overflowing with grace, and He shared it with everyone He met—including us. So, it makes sense that we should do the same. When we understand how much grace we’ve been shown, it becomes easier to pass that grace along to others—especially to the people who need it most.

Eventually, we had to head home. We left the Gulf, and according to the forecast, the waves would stay rough for a few more days—but not forever. Calm days would come again, both for the Gulf and for me, and for you too. And for that person who’s struggling right now? Go ahead and splash a little grace on them. It might be just what they need to find calm and beauty again.

And whether you’re in the middle of your own storm or standing on the shore watching someone else, remember this: whether you need grace or you’re extending it, God’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

food, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, travel

Sweet Tea

Posted on March 7, 2023March 6, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from His fullness.” John 1:16

Sweet tea…oh yes, the drink of the south. I was raised in the deep south and both food and drink were especially important. To most southerners, including me, food was never just food, it was the great comforter—the billboard along the highway of life that said, “it’s gonna be ok.” Growing up, whenever I was sad or happy or maybe a little blue, food was my friend. And what is good food without something good to wash it down? And down south…that must be “sweet tea.” For clarity sweet tea is not brownish, tan water with some sugar or sweetener thrown in. No, sweet tea is brewed, a southern tradition and creation, and when it is done right, well, it’s downright heavenly. When it is done wrong, you end up with sweet brown water.

Sweet tea is not like wine. I’ve heard that wine needs time to age to become fine. That is not true with southern sweet tea. You see good, sweet tea has a short life span. Some would say hours, but no true southerner would say days. If sweet tea is done right, it turns to syrup overnight. Leave a pitcher in the refrigerator till the next day and it becomes a whole different animal. Good, sweet tea is meant to be drank in the moment. You may well sip it, but don’t take too long.

I discovered another kind of sweet tea from another part of the world. When the folks in West Africa drink their version of sweet tea, well, it is an event. First, it is served hot and not cold. Second, it is strong…VERY strong. They brew their tea in a very small pot, with a little water, a lot of tea and over a small coal fired burner. When it comes to a strong boil, they add boatloads of sugar…and I am not kidding. They scoop and scoop and scoop some more. The final result is one of the strongest and sweetest things you can imagine. Trust me, if you weren’t diabetic before you started, you will be by the time you finish. They say their tea is sweet like life and bitter like death.

The way they present their tea is also special. The host will go to great lengths (no pun intended) to pour his or her tea from pot to cup or glass from great heights. The distance a person can pour their tea and not miss the cup is almost a matter of national pride. A famous one-liner is, “I can pour my tea from the back of a camel on a very windy day.” It is a cultural thing…it is a people thing. You see good, sweet tea does that. It brings people together. Whether it is a front porch in South Georgia, or a mat spread on the sands of the Sahara, tea…sweet tea, brings people together.

Today, in a time when there seems to be so much to pull us apart, maybe we all just need to sit down and have a good glass of sweet tea. For our friends in West Africa, it is just a necessity. Go see someone and tea will be offered and, tea will be shared. It builds relationships, it opens the door of communication. Maybe that is one reason why my Momma and Daddy shared a cup of coffee every day when he came home from work. Maybe that is the reason we should do the same. Often when people talk instead of yelling, things change. It is true in government, and it is true in church and it is true in homes.

I’m sure there are lots of reasons why things are so fragmented today and I’m also sure that a glass of sweet tea, no matter how good, won’t solve everything. However, I do know something that might. That is a couple of teaspoons of grace. Just like sugar tames the bitterness of the tea, so grace can tame a temper or temper a difficult situation. Tempered steel is made stronger by the process of applying heat. In the same way, relationships and people are made stronger by applying grace. And we have grace to share because the Bible says that from His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace.

So, when’s the last time you just sat down with a friend, or an adversary for that matter, and had some good, sweet tea mixed with a little grace? You might be surprised to learn that the gulf between the both of you is not as great as you think. It is certainly not so wide that grace can’t span the gap and trust me, no, trust Him—there is always grace enough. As always, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, prayer, Scripture, travel

She Just Wasn’t Herself

Posted on January 3, 2023January 2, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16

She just wasn’t herself. A year ago, we were in Panama City Beach on Florida’s Gulf coast for several days. We were blessed to have a condo right on the beach and five stories up. The sights and sounds of the Gulf were just amazing. We have been here many times over the years, but this year was a little different. You see, I was raised over on the East Coast of Florida where the Atlantic Ocean lives. There the water is grey and is in constant motion from the waves as they make their way to shore. Usually, the Gulf is just different. Here the water usually has just a slight chop and it is not uncommon for it to be a bluish-green color. In a word…it is beautiful. All of that is especially true in the winter months. While the water is too cold for me, I never grow tired of its beauty. But this year…well, it was different.

From the get-go, the water was much more boisterous. The waves were constant and large…especially for the Gulf. The sounds of water tumbling toward the shore filled the air. The red flag flapping on the pole said, “Stay out of the water” but not many needed a flag…especially not today. Today the turbulent water said it all—stay clear…stay on shore. And while the air temperature was a pleasant 72 degrees, the grey clouds, matching the color of the water, echoed that message. The bottom line was the Gulf just wasn’t herself. The old girl was stirred up about something. What, I didn’t know, but she wasn’t herself.

The strange thing is that even though she was not herself, even though she was something totally different, the beauty was still there. There was something about the waves and the grey water that was still beautiful. Perhaps it was the power and majesty of nature and knowing that it was all there by Divine design. Perhaps it was knowing that sometime in the future I would be back…and so would she. I knew that those three or four days didn’t dictate her permanent nature…it was just a moment in time.

At that moment, it occurred to me that what is true with the Gulf is true with us. You see, we all have our days. We all have times when we are just not ourselves and instead of calm and peaceful, instead of a thing of beauty, we act the opposite—turbulent and troubled—more “beastful” than beautiful. And, like the Gulf, we and perhaps not even they, can explain why they are struggling that day, week, month or perhaps year. And probably, most likely, you don’t need to tell them…they know it. You are on the shore looking in, but they are in the midst of the waves…struggling. And hopefully, soon the time will pass, and the calm and color will return to their lives.

What do you do when you bump into someone who is acting like the turbulent Gulf? I think we should do what God does for us…extend a little grace. Grace is defined as unmerited favor and that is what He extends to us and encourages us to extend to them. Grace receivers should always be grace extenders. I like the way John, the one in the Bible, puts it. He says, “For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” Jesus, so full of grace, went about splashing grace on everyone He met—including us. And it just seems right that we should do the same. First, understanding God’s gracefulness to us, be full and then splash it on everyone we bump into—especially the ones who need it the most.

Well, we eventually had to head home. We left the Gulf and according to the forecast she would be turbulent for a few more days…but not forever. Calmer days were ahead for her and for me and for you. And that person that is struggling right now, go ahead and splash a little grace on them. It just might be the thing that brings a return of calm and beauty to their lives. And whether you find yourself in the turbulence or on the shore looking on, remember this. No matter if you need grace or need to extend some, He will be there. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, food, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, love, Scripture, thankful, Trials

Buyer’s Remorse

Posted on May 20, 2022May 19, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” John 1:16

Then sometimes it isn’t quite the easy. You are at the grocery store and your “you need to watch your diet” wife is out of town. Smile. So, as you wind your way through the various aisles of calorie rich delights, you find yourself on the cookie aisle. The packages are calling your name and you say, “Why not?” Because you can’t decide, you buy two and since your “you need to watch your diet” wife is not around, you eat both. As the last cookie of package number two slips past your lips, you realize you probably shouldn’t have bought two, or maybe even one, and you have a sense of remorse…diet remorse and buyer’s remorse. Still, no big deal. You wait 24 hours and don’t have a heart attack and hide the packages deep in the trash. No harm, no foul.

Family, forgiveness, Grace, life, loving others, missions, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, travel, Trials

She Just Wasn’t Herself

Posted on January 3, 2022January 2, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16

She just wasn’t herself. We had been in Panama City Beach on Florida’s Gulf coast for several days. We were blessed to have a condo right on the beach and five stories up. The sights and sounds of the Gulf were just amazing. We have been here many times over the years, but this year was a little different. You see, I was raised over on the East Coast of Florida where the Atlantic Ocean lives. There the water is grey and is in constant motion from the waves as they made their way to shore. Usually, the Gulf is just different. Here the water usually has just a slight chop and it is not uncommon for it to be a bluish-green color. In a word…it is beautiful. All of that is especially true in the winter months. While the water is too cold for me, I never grow tired of its beauty. But this year…well, it was different.

What do you do when you bump into someone who is acting like a turbulent Gulf? I think we should do what God does for us…extend a little grace. Grace is defined as unmerited favor and that is what He extends to us and encourages us to extend to them. Grace receivers should always be grace extenders. I like the way John, the one in the Bible, puts it. He says, “For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” Jesus, so full of grace, went about splashing grace on everyone He met—including us. And it just seems right that we should do the same. First, understanding God’s gracefulness to us, be full and then splash it on everyone we bump into—especially the ones who need it the most.

So, tomorrow we are heading home. We will leave the Gulf and according to the forecast she will still be turbulent but not forever. Calmer days are ahead for her and for me and for you. And that person that is struggling right now, go ahead and splash a little grace on them. It just might be the thing that brings a return of calm and beauty. And whether you find yourself in the turbulence or on the shore looking on, remember this. No matter if you need grace or need to extend some, He will be there. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, food, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, missions, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, travel, wisdom

Sweet Tea

Posted on May 20, 2021May 19, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from His fullness.” John 1:16

Sweet tea…oh yes, the drink of the south. I was raised in the deep south and both food and drink were especially important. To most southerners, including me, food was never just food, it was the great comforter—the billboard along the highway of life that said, “it’s gonna be ok.” Growing up, whenever I was sad or happy or maybe a little blue—food was my friend. And what is good food without something good to wash it down? And down south…that has to be “sweet tea.” For clarity sweet tea is not brownish, tan water with some sugar or sweetener thrown in. No, sweet tea is brewed, a southern tradition and creation, and when it is done right, well, it’s down right heavenly. When it is done wrong, you end up with sweet brown water.

Sweet tea is not like wine. I’ve heard that wine needs time to age to become fine. That is not true with southern sweet tea. You see good, sweet tea has a short life span. Some would say hours, but no true southerner would say days. If sweet tea is done right it turns to syrup overnight. Leave a pitcher in the refrigerator till the next day and it becomes a whole different animal. Good sweet tea is meant to be drank in the moment. You may well sip it, but don’t take too long.

I discovered another kind of sweet tea from another part of the world. When the folks in West Africa drink their version of sweet tea, well, it is an event. First, it is served hot and not cold. Second, it is strong…VERY strong. They brew their tea in a very small pot, with a little water, a lot of tea and over a small coal fired burner. When it comes to a strong boil, they add boatloads of sugar…and I am not kidding. They scoop and scoop and scoop some more. The end result is one of the strongest and sweetest things you can imagine. Trust me, if you weren’t diabetic before you started, you will be by the time you finish. They say their tea is sweet like life and bitter like death.

The way they present their tea is also special. The host will go to great lengths (no pun intended) to pour his or her tea from pot to cup or glass from great heights. The distance a person can pour their tea and not miss the cup is almost a matter of national pride. A famous one-liner is, “I can pour my tea from the back of a camel on a very windy day.” It is a cultural thing…it is a people thing. You see good sweet tea does that. It brings people together. Whether it is a front porch in South Georgia, or a mat spread on the sands of the Sahara, tea…sweet tea, brings people together.

Today, in a time when there seems to be so much to pull us apart, maybe we all just need to sit down and have a good glass of sweet tea. For our friends in West Africa it is just a necessity. Go see someone and tea will be offered and, tea will be shared. It builds relationships, it opens the door of communication. Maybe that is one reason why my Momma and Daddy shared a cup of coffee every day when he came home from work. Maybe that is the reason we should do the same. Often when people talk instead of yelling, things change. It is true in government and it is true in church and it is true in homes.