Gratitude and Grace

"I try to treasure all the small moments that most people don’t really see or take for granted. The small things are magnified for me. We have this endless well within us, and it’s just about continuing to dig in that well for the strength to face adversity — so that we can also see all the beauty."  --Shannon Doherty--

Good Monday to you All,

For various reasons this week, I've been thinking about having gratitude and giving grace.  Generally, most people understand what it means to have gratitude, but here is a reminder anyway.     

When we practice gratitude for the things we possess, both material and immaterial, we have an opportunity to step outside of ourselves and recognize that it's more than just us and our needs at play in the world.  It keeps us humble and thankful and generally helps us to be more appreciative individuals.  In my house, I sometimes say, "less attitude, more gratitude," just to remind each of us, myself included, of all the good that comes our way even when things seem unfair.  

More abstract is the idea of "giving grace."  If you google it, you'll find that the word grace originates from a Latin word meaning thankful.  Giving grace is giving favor or blessing that isn't deserved.  So for example, letting go of a past wrong that has been done to you.  I tend to think of it in a more general way.  I try to give it each day when I feel frustrated about the "negatives" others unintentionally or unknowingly impose on me...having to wait in a long line of traffic during road construction, when someone is late for a mutually agreed upon meeting, or when someone doesn't "see you" in a social situation.  I just try to remember that most people are not bad people, and that while each of us is trying to do our best each day, there are going to be times where the actions of others have small consequences for me.  So when the traffic control guy turns that stop sign my way, give grace.  When my family members don't follow my needed timelines, give grace, and when a friend looks the other way, give grace.  

(As an aside, however, you can't just go around being a nudge assuming that everyone is always going to give you grace.  I kind of see it as reserved for times when someone has real remorse for how their actions affected someone negatively or for when we just don't realize or comprehend how our actions created something negative for someone else.)

So as I mentioned I've been thinking about gratitude and grace a lot this past couple of weeks, not in relation to any one person or situation, but more just putting it out there into the universe.  It's really easy to get caught up in the, "why me's," and forget to be grateful...less attitude, more gratitude, right?  And it is also really easy to blame when things in the world seem to be against you...COVID, the political climate, the social unrest in our communities, and the general health of those we love, so we give grace, and we try to move forward.  

This summer I finally watched Frozen II with my kids, and I felt like Anna's song, The Next Right Thing, a reminder that grief exists, is also a subtle road map pointing towards being grateful and giving grace.  

If nothing else, be grateful for your own inner voice - that well of strength - and your ability to make the next right choice.  Take the next step forward, and give grace to a world that can sometimes cause us pain and grief, forgive where we can, find your power in the face of adversity, and move forward.  

Be well everyone,

Mrs. Hempey