Amazing Grace

“Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now I’m found was blind but now I see…”.  These well-known and loved hymn lyrics quickly come to mind when I think of the word G-R-A-C-E.  I also think of my great Aunt whose name is Grace, I always remember as a child thinking what a pretty name that was.  I think I was onto something there, Grace is a beautiful thing…God’s grace for me, in demonstrating his love & forgiveness to me when I didn’t & don’t deserve it.  Yet He gives it freely, He has been soooo very gracious to me.

I have noticed that unless you are sitting in church on a Sunday, you may not hear this word “grace” to often, unless maybe you say grace before a meal.  I use this word at work sometimes, when I encourage staff to extend grace to one another & many times I am given quite the odd look.  You see, Grace can be a foreign concept to many people.  Truth be told, sometimes my actions demonstrate that it’s somewhat foreign to me.  Oh, I love to sing about God’s amazing grace & I think it’s a beautiful word, but do I love and appreciate the grace I’ve been given so much that I am a grace giver to others?

When someone makes an honest mistake, do I express my annoyance or give grace?

When someone does me wrong, do I make them pay or do I forgive, extending grace?

When I think someone might have a wrong motive, do I doubt them or give them the benefit of the doubt & give grace?

I think that as I grow to more fully understand and appreciate the Grace that has so lavishly been given to me that I have a greater need to be a grace giver to those around me.  As I become more intimately aware of my own shortcomings and imperfections, I become more grateful for the grace both God and those around me extend to me on an almost daily basis & in my gratitude for that grace, how can I deny it to others?