Space Grace

I was trying to get something done quickly. I think I was trying to finalize the project before I had to go somewhere else. I saw a person was standing in the way, but they didn't realize it. Once I realized their being there might hinder my getting my project done in time, I asked them nicely to please move a little before I needed to go there.

The person didn't move, so I asked again. I got frustrated when I really needed to go through there and had to ask the person a third time. At that point, I said a brief prayer asking Christ for Space Grace. If I continued to hold onto resentments because the person didn't move when I asked, I wouldn't have been the example Christ wants me to be of how He works in my Life.

Ingratitude Grace

Sometimes, it's just frustrating when people don't even acknowledge what you've done for them.  My husband packed up a gift and pictures to send to someone that he thought would appreciate them.

I was frustrated when no one called, emailed, or texted to let him know they got it. For me to share my frustration right then, may have made the situation worse for my husband. I prayed for Ingratitude Grace, so I could let go of the frustration and move on to another topic.

Bite Your Lip Grace

I could already tell that a situation wasn't going to go well for someone. It wasn't the type of situation where the person would have been open to suggestions, so  I just watched quietly. During that time, I said a brief prayer asking for Christ's Grace.

Again, I prayed for The Bite Your Lip Grace, so that I didn't draw attention to the negative outcome of that person's decision. Sometimes, it's just better to pray and bite your lip than to make an unwelcome comment!

Cut Yourself Some Slack Grace

Well, I just got on this blog to add some posts. Then, I saw it! I saw that I misspelled the title of the current post, which means people had already read it! I was frustrated with myself, but realized I needed Cut Yourself Some Slack Grace. 

It doesn't really do any good to beat yourself up over things. Once Christ made me aware of what I was doing, I got on the post and changed the title, of course, putting in the correct spelling this time. I figured it was important to share my shortcomings with you. We all need to cut ourselves some slack, sometimes and Christ is the one who can redirect us when we need it.

Newton's Laws of Motion Grace

Since I'm in the healing process from a foot injury, I've had to ride in the backseat of our car for rides of an hour or more. When the car starts or stops abruptly, Newton's Laws of Motion kicks in. That's every action has an equal and opposite reaction!

With that said, it means that when the car stops quickly, my cast is thrust in the opposite direction and then forward. If there is a speedy take off, the cast flips forward and then back. It's kind of like when you hold and empty swing up in the air and let it swing back and forth until it slows down and comes to a stop.

I realized that these starts and stops might not seem so dramatic to the person driving the car, but seem very dramatic when my leg in the cast is flopping back and forth during stopping and starting. When I've mentioned this to the driver, it just sounds like I'm being critical. If it sounds like that to the driver, I'm sure not being a very good example of being gracious in the way that Christ would want. I am praying for Newton's Laws of Motion Grace, so that in the future, I am much more tolerant and gracious!

Example of a Brief Prayer

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Acts 15:11

I was with someone who was scooping up some free popcorn. They didn't ask me if I wanted any. The person told me that I should get a bag of popcorn and then took it from my hands. They wanted me to get the popcorn for them to eat later.

It's such a silly thing, but it really did irritate me. Didn't that person think about whether I wanted some or not? Couldn't they have asked me if I wanted some before they took it from my hands? I found myself getting frustrated at that person. Then, it popped into my mind that that's not what Christ wants of me. He wants me to be gracious to those who irritate me, but I was too frustrated to be gracious at that moment.

What I prayed was, "Popcorn Grace," and immediately Christ calmed me down, so that I didn't respond to the person in a less than positive manner. Although the "Popcorn Grace" prayer was very brief, I was asking Christ to please give me grace with this popcorn situation, so I would respond in a gracious manner, and He did! It amazed me that He knew and understood my brief prayer and granted me that grace, so I could be more gracious as an example of how He works in my life! I have continued to use these brief prayers which are changing my life and my response to others. If Christ can do this for me, He can most certainly do it for you, as well. Try it...what can it hurt?