Grace

My grandmother's name was Grace.

The girl's middle name is Grace.

So strong was my grandmother's influence that almost every one of her grandchildren have used some form of her name in naming their own children.

Grace is a powerful thing.

Im coming to understand it more and more. I think the first time that I really "got" what grace was several years ago when I realized that Christ had chosen me to belong to Him knowing beforehand that I would specifically do something very bad .

That realization rained down on my consciousness...HE KNEW what I was going to do and that it would be sinful and yet HE CHOSE me even before that happened...KNOWING I was going to do it. WOW! I had understood the gospel previous to that, however after that realization it was so tangible.

I believe in giving people alot of grace. I cant live without it in my own life, so I figure giving it to others is a good thing as well. I try not to have too high of expectations. Of course I fail miserably at times. (especially with my own family!) I try to give people a wide berth and not get my feelings hurt. Grace makes it alot easier to love people and to meet them right where they are regardless of their actions...which Ive realized you cant control!

Applying grace to myself is harder. I know we are always hardest on ourselves. I believe it is because we are aware of our own humaness and know how we DESERVE to be treated. Grace says otherwise. While forgiving others may be difficult, forgiving yourself at times seems harder.

Applying grace in my relationships has freed me alot. Im not as angry. Im not as full of rules as I used to be. Its freed me to overlook the parts of people that I maybe dont agree with. Im learning its not my place to judge...but to love.

Its a freeing concept. One that Im daily thankful that Christ uses with me.