I Extend Grace

I extend grace…

… by remembering the Grace that was extended to me.

What an amazing God we serve.

…by God’s Grace…even to those who do not extend Grace to me.

I extend Grace to my pastor… I feel such a passion to the ministry of Compassion and I am so EAGER to share this ministry to my church that sometimes I am frustrated that my church leadership DOES NOT. My church is very much involved in the local community and is truly a beacon of light in our local community. They have been contemplating how to balance their reach to the local community with their reach with the global community and the process seems very slow to ME…

But not to God…

…because I want my children to learn how to love others unconditionally, just as the Father loves us.

because God first showed grace to me.

By trying to always be patient in situations where a lot of people lose their tempers… even when the cashier at the check out line is moving very slowly, or someone cuts me off in traffic, or no one wants to listen to what is really important in this world…

By talking to a stranger from Brazil.

I extend grace (imperfectly) by being willing to sit and teach a child to crochet or knit in the afterschool program at my school, even if that child is known to “not play well with others”. It’s hard to be nice to someone who is not always (or often) nice to be around, but these kids I have in mind need to see someone reacting positively toward them rather than have all their feedback be negative.

b/c I know I can use more and need more than whoever I am extending it to!!! I extend grace b/c I want grace myself!!! It is vital for me to function!!!