teaching grace.

at my ripe old age of twenty-nine . . .

it seems that i have learned 

that the foundation of all relationships we encounter in life

is based upon an unwavering mountain of grace. 

one little word. 

holds such a great big heaping amount of power.

the power to build love. the power to take love away.

the power to show kindness. the power to reveal a callus heart.  

the power to build a relationship with someone's heart.

and not simply with ones behaviors. 

if not for this little thing we call grace.

how could anyone possibly love us at all? 

are we all not in need of grace every. single. day.

{i happen to be in need of grace several times a day}

it took me a lot of years. 

a lot of stubbornness. 

& a lot of heartache 

to learn how glorious the power of grace actually is. 

to learn how to receive grace.

and more importantly . . . how to give grace. 

unconditionally. 

if i teach my child nothing more than to love jesus & to live by grace . . .

i will consider my role as a mama a success.

but how does one teach grace? 

how do you teach the immeasurable value of showing grace 

to a loved one that has let you down?

or to a friend who has wronged you?

or to someone who just has a bad attitude? 

i am making that my goal. 

to teach the freedom that comes with extending a heart full of grace.

the pure joy that fills your soul when accepting another being with an embrace of grace.

which in that very action causes you to only see the good in that person.

to recognize that everyone has their own story. their own struggle. their own sin.

& while it is likely behind closed doors. and unseen by you or me. 

there are reasons & circumstances that dictate all of our behaviors. 

& whether right or wrong. those behaviors are not ours to judge.

not ours to find entitlement to be hurt by. 

they are not ours to take ownership of. 

or be annoyed by. 

or be saddened by.

but rather.

those behaviors give us the divine appointed opportunity to show a gracious heart.

to show our grace. that is a direct reflection of christ's kindness.

& now that i think about it . . . 

i believe the only way to teach grace is by example.

i personally learned the true meaning of grace by receiving grace.

or more powerfully so . . . by not receiving grace.

we have all been hurt by the lack of grace our world tends to offer. 

the olive branches in this dry land are few & far between.

and sadly. as i am sure many of you have been. 

i have had experiences when grace was not easily gifted to me. 

when judgement came strong & swift. 

where lack of understanding allowed for bitterness & anger.

and oh. how desperately one longs for grace in those moments. 

so it is my hearts great desire to show grace to this world. 

to be an example for my baby boy. to teach him what it means to give grace.

and how wonderful it is to receive grace in return.

after all. 

grace is quite great. 

and it is contagious. 

so start sharing grace today. 

we all need it. 

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