GRACE

When my sister-in-law adopted a kitten from the animal shelter, she named her Grace. That little kitten was constantly on the move— getting into anything within reach, scattering mail around the room and chewing it into oblivion, waking her owner by jumping on her at night. I think only grace—“free or unmerited favor”—kept her from a return trip to the shelter. However, the reason my sister-in-law gave the name was to remind herself of the importance of grace in her own life.
We all need grace. How many times do we mess up and deserve a royal bawling out or worse, and yet the person we hurt decides to let it go? For happily married people, the answer is “Often.” Without grace, a marriage would likely not survive. Same goes for friendships.
The world today could use more grace. So often we are quick to criticize and slow to forgive and forget. We hold grudges against family. Or we forgive those close to us, but expect perfection of our spiritual or political leaders. The middle grade novel I am working on now explores, among other things, the need for grace within a family—and the pain caused when grace is missing. I thank God for the grace he has given me, and I pray that I can extend that same grace to those around me.
Amazing Grace is certainly true. Grace is a miraculous thing.