Are you good at greeting people and getting off to a good start with them? How about bidding folks farewell? Do you have it figured out? Since there sure is a lot of coming and going in life, it seems like we had better develop a fine “transition game” in this regard.

Paul signs off the book of Ephesians and gives us a strong transition pointer. He features the same two words which start out the book: grace and peace. The greeting and farewell correspond. Is there a sweeter pair to wish another soul?

Peace comes to us when the love of the Father and faith in His Son become deep and real. Grace comes when the dying and undying love of Jesus fully gets to us. Our undying love for Him then grows, peace with God settles in and grace leads us home. Grace and peace are so valuable in shaping our approach to any situation.

This message was well-timed for me. I had just attended the funeral and graveside send-off of a beautiful man, one whom I never met, but always wanted to. Every greeting and each farewell I faced there challenged me. I wanted everyone I met to feel grace and peace somehow.

Reflect: Do you see a grace/peace combo becoming a standard expression for you? Are you freely reminding others of these two beautiful words, whether you're going or coming? Are you helping folks feel and experience grace and peace with you?

A prayer to consider: Lord, help me best greet others and bring sweet farewells, mentioning grace and peace often. May others experience this from You through me, whether I'm coming or going. Amen.