Grace
What does it mean to be graceful? At a glance, the word appears to be a literal combination of grace and full—referring or someone or something that is full of grace. You’ve probably heard it refer to a dancer or the like, and that would be an apt description. Physical grace is certainly to be admired, but beyond that we have the kind of inner grace that demands respect and admiration. You may not be religious, but traditionally defined; grace refers to the “free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.” Whether you are Christian or not, your ability to offer grace and display grace to anyone and everyone makes a world of difference to you and those watching you. It’s interesting to think that by offering something so simple can have such a radical impact on someone else. By simply letting someone merge in front of you or giving someone a few dollars, you’ve changed their lives. The Christian doctrine was founded on the concept of grace, given in love. For humans, it’s noticeably more challenging to be so loving and graceful, but what comes from efforts made in service of sharing grace we share that love.
I’ve said before that we as humans should be doing better at looking out for each other, and I get it, it’s not easy. It’d be much easier to hate the person who cut you off than to offer them grace and forgive them, but realize for a second the power of grace. To turn away anger, to remove hate, to offer grace is the single most potent act you could do. Giving grace isn’t a sign of weakness, but by rejecting selfishness and cruelty, we achieve something greater than our own merit. Grace shouldn’t be limited to people you know or like, the lives that need the most touching are the ones we think about least. Grace doesn’t mean blind acceptance or tolerance, but rather love or kindness given, even when it is the least necessary. If you are so powerful to withhold grace and forgiveness from someone who needs it from you, why should you receive it from Him?
