This past summer I wrote a post concerning "This too shall pass" and
sometimes that is the way things happen; time heals the wound or solves an issue. However, beyond the passing of time, there are many ways to solve problems and I am always looking for solutions, such as brainstorming with my friends. A multitude of counsel can have an amazing impact, because friends introduce solutions we may not have thought of. Life Lesson 32 is a post called for when you need help making a decision or solving a problem and covers that subject pretty well from my own experience.
Today, however I am thinking of the grace in my life when I have received a gift or solution without earning it or even deserving it. Grace is the free and unmerited favor of God. It is also free and unmerited favor given or received from others. In my family, there are times when we say to each other "We need to give grace today," because ____is having a difficult time and is not his or her best self." We do this not to give excuses, but just because life can be hard and if someone is not handling things well, we can choose to give them a break and extend some grace. We can overlook a bad day or bad reaction and choose not take offense. We can give grace.
Life Lesson 57: Expect good things
and make room for grace.
I was reminded again yesterday that what we say and what we ask for plays an important role in what happens in our lives. I have had a particular struggle for a while, and had sincerely prayed for an answer a few months ago as well as talking to a couple of friends about it. When my solution presented itself this weekend, I forgot I had even prayed about it or told my friends. My best friend reminded me of my prayer, and how we had talked about it trying to come up with solutions. I was shocked and relieved that this problem was solved with the exact thing I needed and asked for, not by me, but just as a gift from God. That solution was simply the grace of God and friends in my life. Whatever your problem, there is help beyond your abilities and concerns. It doesn't always come when we think it should, or in the way we think it should, but help is available. Sometimes we don't even have to ask and a solution will turn up just as we need it. Sometimes the solution comes when we ask for help, expect good things, and then make room for grace.
Grace has many forms. A solution, a kindness, favor, or as a good attitude in the face of something negative. It is a life lesson building block to not carry a chip on our shoulders and think we have to respond in kind every time we have words with or disagree with someone . Sometimes we should just let things go. Sometimes we should just let the ugly words or action keep laying there on the ground. We can choose to not pick up the offense and carry it around to show how we have been wronged. Instead we can give some grace. (I want to add that letting yourself be a doormat out of fear or immaturity is not what I am talking about.) Grace is a choice.
Grace is the choice to let someone's temporary bad attitude or bad decision roll right off your back and love them anyway. The key is to allow for a few mistakes in people. We are not perfect.
Let's give some grace, receive some, and make our part of the world a better place.
Barefoot and writing,
Kim
about the author MORE POPULAR POSTS
sometimes that is the way things happen; time heals the wound or solves an issue. However, beyond the passing of time, there are many ways to solve problems and I am always looking for solutions, such as brainstorming with my friends. A multitude of counsel can have an amazing impact, because friends introduce solutions we may not have thought of. Life Lesson 32 is a post called for when you need help making a decision or solving a problem and covers that subject pretty well from my own experience.
Today, however I am thinking of the grace in my life when I have received a gift or solution without earning it or even deserving it. Grace is the free and unmerited favor of God. It is also free and unmerited favor given or received from others. In my family, there are times when we say to each other "We need to give grace today," because ____is having a difficult time and is not his or her best self." We do this not to give excuses, but just because life can be hard and if someone is not handling things well, we can choose to give them a break and extend some grace. We can overlook a bad day or bad reaction and choose not take offense. We can give grace.
Life Lesson 57: Expect good things
and make room for grace.
I was reminded again yesterday that what we say and what we ask for plays an important role in what happens in our lives. I have had a particular struggle for a while, and had sincerely prayed for an answer a few months ago as well as talking to a couple of friends about it. When my solution presented itself this weekend, I forgot I had even prayed about it or told my friends. My best friend reminded me of my prayer, and how we had talked about it trying to come up with solutions. I was shocked and relieved that this problem was solved with the exact thing I needed and asked for, not by me, but just as a gift from God. That solution was simply the grace of God and friends in my life. Whatever your problem, there is help beyond your abilities and concerns. It doesn't always come when we think it should, or in the way we think it should, but help is available. Sometimes we don't even have to ask and a solution will turn up just as we need it. Sometimes the solution comes when we ask for help, expect good things, and then make room for grace.
Grace has many forms. A solution, a kindness, favor, or as a good attitude in the face of something negative. It is a life lesson building block to not carry a chip on our shoulders and think we have to respond in kind every time we have words with or disagree with someone . Sometimes we should just let things go. Sometimes we should just let the ugly words or action keep laying there on the ground. We can choose to not pick up the offense and carry it around to show how we have been wronged. Instead we can give some grace. (I want to add that letting yourself be a doormat out of fear or immaturity is not what I am talking about.) Grace is a choice.
Grace is the choice to let someone's temporary bad attitude or bad decision roll right off your back and love them anyway. The key is to allow for a few mistakes in people. We are not perfect.
Let's give some grace, receive some, and make our part of the world a better place.
Barefoot and writing,
Kim
about the author MORE POPULAR POSTS
