Grace, Grace God's Grace – Hannah GRACE Shelton

Daddy & Hannah Grace

I.) “GIFT from ABOVE”

When she was born, I was there with my surgical gloves on and my biggest fear was that I was going to drop her. In the mid 1960’s, my Uncle Bobby Shelton played for the Detroit Tigers (AAA) as an outfielder and was incredible with both the bat and glove. In my youth, I made one or two diving catches in baseball and one handed grabs in games playing football but this was the biggest “catch” of my life and I was praying not to drop this one (baby).

As Hannah was being delivered what ran through my mind was this is one of God’s miracles and will be forever one of the greatest moments and memories for me. The mental movie reel of my life was flashing before my eyes and what seemed like a lifetime was moments (not minutes). Then as her head and shoulders were showing I remember thinking this overwhelming feeling: “How could a person witness this miracle of child birth and not believe in God?”

II) “GIFT of LOVE”

As she was born, she was crying, her mother was crying, my mom was crying and I had tears of JOY! We named her Hannah Grace because “Hannah” spelled backwards is still Hannah. LOL Secondly, we got Hannah from the Old Testament and “Grace” is the New Testament. Thirdly, Hannah means grace. So it is almost pronounced or read “Grace Grace” or Full of Grace. It has been said GRACE = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

Hannah has her mother’s hair but Daddy’s dimples. She is precious, priceless and our princess! Jesus is my King, Ruth is my Queen but Hannah is my princess. I knew my life would be forever changed when Hannah was born. Leadership positions sought me out early on and people, networking, building and hard work came easy to me but I recall (still do at times) feeling so inadequate to try to provide and nurture for this baby girl. My car and cell phone came with an owners manual but not Hannah. I was thrilled but terrified all rolled into one! I felt like Frank, the Fruit Roll-up!!

Without question, Hannah has brought unending joy to our lives. She is the air to my lungs, (outside of Jesus and Ruth) the hope in my heart, the snap to my step and one of the main reasons that I live and breath. I was invited to speak at Six Flags America in 2004, with Avalon, ZOEgirl and Ken Harvey, former linebacker of the Washington Redskins. We went to the amusement park that day and they had my name on a billboard as you enter the park. As a parent, I think we all want to do well by our child(ren) and I looked at her and asked her at four years old: “Hannah, are you impressed that Daddy is speaking today with Avalon and ZoeGirl?” She said: “No, but I am impressed you are opening up for the Veggie Tails!” Kids will keep you grounded 🙂

A couple years later, I asked her why she doesn’t accompany me to some of the larger churches I preach at and without missing a beat she said: “Daddy, I feel Jesus more in the “smaller church” than the big churches.” Wow, I am sure there is a sermon in there somewhere. Hannah is not only a girl, gift of God, gift of love but resembles:

III) “God’s GLOVE”

During the darkest days of my life, I honestly didn’t know if I could move on. My life had been hit so hard by enemy fire that my body was drained, emotionally exhausted, financially on fumes and I was almost down for the count. My days were dark and the nights were long and for the first time in my life I was praying for God to either stop the fight or throw in the towel. Outside of God’s grace and my faith in Jesus, my parents prayers, love of my family and Christ-like support from countless friends both personally and professionally the one thing that kept me in the game was my daughter, Hannah Grace. Down but not out, I needed to get up, climb the ropes, wipe the blood from my proverbial brow and move forward “by faith” and live for her, to remind her that she has a Daddy who loves her, provides for her and adores her. My private prayer is still to honor God, love my wife and make my children proud. I want to live, love and leave a legacy and if the Lord tarries, I want them to know by my life and lips that they are my everything.

Hannah is WISE, like WINE (that she gets sweeter with age) and God used her to WIPE many of my tears away. She is also WILD and maturing to be a wonderful woman one day. God granted me grace in July 1979, after accepting Christ as my Lord and Savior (age 7) at a Vacation Bible School in Brandywine, MD. He “doubly” graced me with the birth of my daughter, Hannah Grace Shelton. As if it were yesterday, I recall thinking, while my mind racing and knees knocking if I were going to drop her in that delivery room. By God’s grace “we” didn’t. However, over the years God used my daughter Hannah Grace who ironically, “caught me” in God’s glove of grace as an adult and reminded me by her angelic smile that with her and God everything was going to be just fine. She was right, God makes the crooked straight and I am living proof: “When you’re down to nothing. God is UP to something.”

This classic hymn ministers to me everytime I hear it:
“Grace, Grace God’s Grace”

“Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold, threaten the soul with infinite loss;
grace that is greater, yes, grace untold, points to the refuge, the mighty cross

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide. What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide, brighter than snow you may be today

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see his face, will you this moment his grace receive?

(chorus) Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin!

Over the years, I have met one or two notables in my life but Hannah Grace Shelton is the one I want to resemble when this kid (me) grows up. Because of Calvary and Hannah Grace, truly I am full of GRACE. Hannah, we love you baby (always have – always will) and HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONKEY!