Grace.
Define it.
Ready? Go.
Did we all end up with the same definition?
There is a very good chance we did not.
I often find myself going to the dictionary when asked to write about something or a word I’ve heard many times in my life.
Grace is one of those words for me.
{I’m also that kid who would type in “2 + 2” on her calculator during a math test.}
Y’know, just in case it changed or something.
When I read through the definitions of grace, there is one that really stuck.
Care to follow along as I share how my brain processed this result?
I sat down to write about God grace. The grace that He pours out on us when we don’t deserve it. When we haven’t change our ways and when we continue in the same, old, pattern.
That grace.
But then I read this definition of the word grace:
Do honor or credit to (someone or something) by one’s presence.
Hm. This definition isn’t new, but put in the context of His grace–it felt new to me.
He does grace us with His presence. And often, it’s in conjunction with the grace we don’t deserve.
And He honors us with His presence when we deserve the exact opposite, yet He chooses and continues to choose grace.
He shows up.
He’s here with us.
Pouring grace out on us as He graces us with His presence.
It put a whole new spin on the word for me.
Grace.
So how does that impact or change me? I think “interesting” is fine and dandy–but not doing anything with it is a shame.
I want to be quick to forgive–quick to give grace–allowing my presence to be a symbol of that. Not that heads turn when I walk into a room or anything of the sort. But that His presence would turn heads. His grace would overflow.
I’m thinking on these things today–in my marriage, with my daughter, interactions with friends and loved ones.
How am I tangibly showing grace? Not just clanging the grace cymbal to put on a good face–but the kind that is shown in word and action.
That grace.
{charcoal prints available soon}
As many times as I’ve studied and thought about the word grace I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen or paid attention to this definition. And WOW – talk about convicting! I think it’s easy to think about the non-tangible ways of showing grace, but the whole presence thing – the most important part – seems so hard to give sometimes. Action speaks louder than words, right?
I hadn’t either!!! it makes me want to go through all of those “words I’ve always known from growing up in the church” – and revisit them again, y’know?
This is beautiful. Both the print and your words. I love that definition and yes–I am convicted again. Grace is so so hard for me. For myself and for others. I love the idea of “tangible grace”. Thank you for posting.
so thankful for you, love!
Love this post, I fell like I could have written this post. My word I chose to focus on for 2013 is GRACE. I have been praying hard for His GRACE to lead me in everything everyday and yesterday I felt it all day long. Amazing. ; )
Ahhh!!! So awesome!!
This post is so insightful and such a good reminder. Thanks so much for writing it!
It just sort of spilled out – thankful that someone was blessed by it! xoxo!
wow. i love that. thanks for sharing! new follower :)
So happy to have you here, Hailey! xoxo!
I loved this post
I love when people make me stop and think
think hard
about my awesome creator.
ALSO
the charcoal print knocks my socks off you talented lady!
Yes. He truly is an awesome creator. Xo!
I love this. I want to ooze grace…
And I would be the one punching 2+2 into the calculator too. :)
This is so beautiful. I have never really thought about grace before. Thank you!
Learning GRACE this past year was H.U.G.E. for me! Learning what it meant, specifically what God wanted me to grasp from that little word. It started with simple things like knowing when I have a bad mommy day I’m still His beautiful princess to learning that because of His grace I am made beautiful even though I’m way overweight. To learning to pour out grace onto others and I fully expect to learn more about that precious word this year! Love your words, love your heart!!!