Credit: stock.xchang

Adele Woodmore, a wealthy 86-year-old woman sold her huge estate in Alexandria, Louisiana and moved to the quaint tourist town of Les Barbes, Louisiana to be closer to her godchild, Grace Brossard (2). Zoe Broussard, Grace’s mother, once worked as part of Adele’s household staff and stole a valuable ring from Adele, then fooled police and Adele into thinking she was innocent. Zoe later sold the ring and moved to Les Barbes, using the money to start up Zoe B’s Cajun Eatery. Ten years later (book one, False Pretenses), Zoe went back and confessed everything to Adele and offered to pay her a thousand dollars a month for thirty months to square the debt. When it came time to sign the repayment papers, Adele informed Zoe and her husband, Pierce, that she had decided to forgive the thirty thousand dollars—and had also paid off the mortgage on their building. Adele’s reason for doing it was simple: it was grace. Zoe and Pierce were overwhelmed at such a generous act, and Adele eventually confided in them about her own past. How she had lost a child when she was eight months pregnant, had never been able to conceive again, and had never forgiven God. In the aftermath of grief, Adele was bitter and mean, taking her spite out on her hired help. Adele’s husband had to pay their employees ridiculous salaries, just to stay and put up with Adele’s mistreatment. After Adele’s husband died, in her desperation, she accepted Christ and her perspective began to change. She went back to all the people she’d hurt and asked forgiveness. Some forgave her. Others didn’t. But she promised God that she would extend grace to all those who crossed her path. God had forgiven her so much. She didn’t see how she could do less. Adele’s act of grace turned out to be the catalyst for a deep and lasting friendship, and the Broussards named their firstborn daughter Grace—as a reminder of Adele’s (and God’s) kindness to them.