Five Minute Friday: It’s here again! The rules are simple. Write on the topic for 5 minutes. Link to Gypsy Mama’s Five Minute Friday page. And most important, stop at the person ahead of you and leave her an encouraging note…along with anyone else you want to visit.
GRACEFUL
GO
Graceful…full of grace.
The word can also have connotations that relate to one’s coordination,
But for my purposes today, we’ll concentrate on what it means to be full of grace.
When you think of a graceful woman, or man…
What do you think of?
I think of the ultimate “class act”.
You know that person who holds their tongue and behaves graciously
In a situation where they are being treated in a “tacky” way?
It means giving the gift of grace to a person who doesn’t deserve it…and moving on.
It means not holding that event against them and throwing it in their face, in the future.
Graceful.
The person who understands the gift of forgiveness she has been given…and how massive it is.
The one who passes on that forgiveness to those around her when they are being unkind.
When they are rude, sarcastic, complaining, difficult or just being patronizing.
Does she get the barbs in the sarcasm? Yes.
But she refuses to respond to them in kind. STOP
Does he understand that some have gossiped about him instead of dealing directly with their disagreements?
Of course, but he treats them with honor and respect.
Sometimes, after years, they understand the grace he was giving them.
Sometimes they never do.
But he goes into his sunset years with a peace and calm because he isn’t trying to get revenge.
GOD has given him grace…and the realization and appreciation that he is forgiven.
He knows GOD is good. Justice is in His hands.
He knows his job is to glorify GOD in the way he lives his life.
That means showing grace to others.
No matter who they are.
No matter how they treat him.
Being graceful,
It is part of being an image-bearer of Jesus Christ.
Showing grace to others despite how they treat us.. That’s a tough one! But exactly what we’re expected to do. Thank you for the reminder to pass on the forgiveness we’ve received for free. God bless you, Martha!
thanks for stopping by sheena. you are right. apart from Christ, we can NOT do this!
richelle, can you tell where i find an area of struggle?
Barbs of sarcasm. Ouch. My problem is I throw too many of those myself. I have skinned knees and scars from being ungraceful as a child. I often find, however, that as a grown man I cause some cuts and scrapes and bruises and scars to others with my too-often ungraceful tongue. It would be nice if I had a graceful tongue all the time. I can be encouraging and helpful and graceful in my speech. And usually am. It’s those darn occasional one-offs when my tongue just won’t sit still. Great post.
thanks for coming by and commenting steven. learning to be graceful often includes remembering the pain of receiving sarcastic barbs doesn’t it?
“Does she get the barbs in the sarcasm? Yes. But she refuses to respond to them in kind.”
Ouch! So much easier to react likewise rather than respond in love and humility. Very convicting words you’ve shared… so glad I popped over and have read them.
“Sometimes they never do.” And yet, to keep giving grace! Amen! Beautiful thoughts.
yes, that is really the definition of grace isn’t it stacy? my tendency is to keep reminding them…or others, of how patient or forbearing i’m being:)…not gracious!