I looked up “grace” in the dictionary. It is a word that can
be used in many ways. For instance, some people are graceful in the way that
they speak and in the way they move. It is the name we give to the prayer before a meal. It could be used in addressing a person who is royal. The word
grace is best understood by Christians. It is represented by Jesus coming to
earth and dying in our place for our sins. He pardoned us. That is grace. That is
mercy. As Christians, we want to be like Christ and we want to be full of grace.
In churchland, (sorry, I made that up) you might have heard it
said about a difficult person needing EGR, or extra grace required. It
is a “cute,” sometimes not nice, quip used as a reminder to give grace, even to those who we find difficult
to be around. *Everyone can be an EGR at times.
This Christmas, as you are finishing up your shopping and you
are celebrating with friends and family, please take a moment and think about
people in your life that need to be given grace. Make a mental list of the people who
annoy you, who hurt you, who you are jealous of and start offering them grace.
It may just be a mental attitude shift. No one needs to know. It may be in the
way you respond to them. Think of it this way, if your best friend would have
said that or did that frustrating thing, you may have responded differently. Treat that person how
you would your best friend.
A synonym for grace is mercy. Jesus said in Matthew 9:13, “But
go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not
come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Giving grace could be difficult, but it could be the best
and cheapest gift you give. It could enrich your marriage, your family life,
your workplace, your church, etc.
This Christmas, give grace.*updated 12/25/17
