Belittling Grace

I was in the same area as someone who was making belittling comments to another person about a mutual friend of theirs. I wanted to say something like, Isn't so and so one of your friends?" I realized that it would be counterproductive to get involved in drawing attention to how wrong this behavior, because in the process I would be belittling the person who made the comment to put them in their place.

Well, after prayerful consideration, realizing that person wouldn't change their behavior even if I drew attention to it, I said a brief prayer. I prayed for Belittling Grace, because I didn't want all that frustration toward that person in my heart. Once I said the brief prayer, Christ knew I wanted to be an example of His grace in my life. He gave me a calm feeling, when I had been upset a few minutes prior to that, which wouldn't have been the case if I had continued to stand there fuming over the belittling comments.

Right Now Grace

I was in the middle of addressing cards when I was asked to do something right now. I said that I would help with it as soon as I finished addressing that card, but I know the other person wasn't all too pleased with that. I had a stack of cards to address, but put them down to assist this person when I realized how angry I was that I was expected to drop everything in the middle of my project to do this thing immediately!

Knowing that anger isn't what Christ wants in my heart, I prayed for Right Now Grace. When I said this brief prayer for grace, so that I was no longer angry with this person, nor harbored resentments toward them. I am so blessed with how gracious Christ truly is. He helped me relax and do that person's thing immediately and deliver it to them. I no longer had resentments to this person and was with Christ's assistance able to let it go.

Greedy Grace

My husband and I were at a luncheon graciously put on by a Christian Church that are primarily of another culture. After the luncheon, they had gift bags for the attendees. A man that was sitting at our table was first to go over and get a bag. He didn't wait until the hosts brought them to the table as the rest of the people did. It seems he had ulterior motives. This man took two bags and brought them back to the table.

I wanted to make some kind of remark to draw attention to his greediness like, "Are you getting one for someone who couldn't attend the luncheon? or Do you think there will be enough for everyone when you take two?" Instead I said a brief prayer for Greedy Grace. I was basically asking God for grace, so that I didn't say something to the man who was being greedy. After this this brief prayer, I calmed down and my anger toward that man subsided. 

Revenge Grace

I recently made a mistake that affected other people. When I realized what I had done, I said to the person that I was talking to that I had to go, because I wanted to contact the company and try to fix my error. In the process, the original person I had talked to wouldn't answer my call even though they knew I would be calling back shortly to share what I had found. 

The more I thought of it, the angrier I got. I realized their action was of revenge for me hanging up so abruptly, so they decided to not answer my call. (Of course, I realize when I'm not angry that there might be 40,000 other reasons that they didn't answer my call, but it didn't seem like that at the time!) 

Anyway, I first was thinking that I was going to share my feelings on the matter in person, but Christ who wants better of me, reminded me with the thought to say a brief prayer. I asked for Revenge Grace, to not be pulled into someone else's need to be spiteful and act in kind. Christ wants me to be an example of how He works in my life. That's why He gives me His grace, so that I can be more gracious to others as He has been to me!

P.S. I wanted to add that when I talked to this person later, we were both much more gracious. I thought it was significant, because possibly when I'm praying for Christ's Grace, it potentially benefits the other person, as well as, it benefits me!