Grace
(The image is one of the stained glass windows at Grace Cathedral, a Catholic church in San Francisco.)
What does it mean to you, to live your life with grace? To a religious person, I would assume that it means living in God’s grace. But what does that mean, and does it mean the same thing to an atheist? I can’t speak to the religious side as well as Tracy or Dot might, but I can say that for me, to live my life in grace is something to strive for. Sadly, not something that comes exactly naturally. It means letting go of anger and bitterness, and embracing your forgiving nature. It means being generous and giving to those around us. To let go of anger and bitterness. It means forgiving those who trespass against us. It means living your life in such a way that you are at peace in your soul, and that hopefully, the mention of certain names and events don’t fill your soul with bile and anger. It means being grateful for the gifts that you have been given, be they family, friends, wealth, health, whatever. Gratitude, I suspect, is a large part of attaining grace.
I try to live this way. I try to have compassion for others, to let my anger go by the wayside (unless it helps me through a situation…). I try to forgive those who have trespassed against me, because really, what good does it do to hang on to anger and bitterness, other than to make me angry and bitter. So I try. I think about it. I concentrate on it. I can’t say I meditate or pray on it, since I’ve never practiced either of those. I am much better at being grateful for the life I lead. I spend more time, I think, thankful for my gifts than I do bitter at my burdens. I believe that living one’s life with grace is a healthy, wonderful thing to do. I think it helps you to be a healthy, happy, giving person. And that is who I want to be.
10 Comments
Autumn's Mom
I think it means the same to you as it does for me. I just rely on Him to help me obtain it 🙂 because as you said, it doesn’t always come naturally. You are such a good person J, one of the best I know.
Starshine
The definition that comes to mind when I think of grace is: the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God (Dictionary.com). In other words, God’s love and forgiveness of my sins are mine, even though I am undeserving of both. They are a gift given to me as an act of God’s grace, which I received through faith.
Because of God’s grace toward me, I am also called on to be gracious toward others–showing love and forgiveness to them, even when they don’t deserve it. His grace toward me empowers me to be gracious toward others. Jesus taught his disciples to pray saying “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Starshine
Great post, by the way! I think the concept of grace is largely lost on our culture. If you’re ever in the mood for a wonderful book on the subject, I highly recommend “What’s so Amazing about Grace?” by Phillip Yancey
Py Korry
This is a very thoughtful post! It’s tough to live life as you say, but it’s much more psychologically healthy to do so than to give in to the “dark side.” Just ask Yoda! 🙂
Chrissy
What a beautiful post, J. This was a truly thoughtful and thought provoking post. I think your phrase “I spend more time, I think, thankful for my gifts than I do bitter at my burdens.” it the perfect way to describe grace. You hit it bang on.
P.S. My middle name is Grace. I don’t think I was named Grace after the definition that Starshine gave in her comment though 🙂 I was given the name Christmas Grace because I was supposed to be born on Christmas. Luckily I arrived a week early and my parents changed my name to Christine Grace! LOL! Imagine? In Chinese characters, my maiden name literally translates to “tree”. I would have been Christmas (Grace) Tree! LOL!
Karen MEG
J, this post is one of the reasons I love stopping in for a visit. You write so eloquently, so beautifully.
I’m not a particularly religious person (although raised Catholic, we rarely go to church unless for the big days); but I think we could all take a lesson from this, to live with a little more grace on a day to day level. And be more gracious to each other while we are here on this earth.
Jimmy
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls, now
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
J
Jimmy, I LOVED that song when I was a kid. 🙂 So cheerful!
LauraH
My husband, at least in my mind, lived his life with grace. I always aspired to be more like him-kind, generous (almost to a fault), concerned and ohhh a million things that made up a man that I held (and still do) above all others. He was true to himself which lent to the theme of living one’s life with grace. I can only hope to be half so good.
I hope your mom is well. You both are never far from thought.
Gina
I am not so full of Grace as I could be.