Picking Up Grace

I noticed some things on the floor that might have been a fall hazard. Since I've fallen several times, I go to great extents to make sure there aren't things laying around that someone might trip on.

One time, I asked another person to pick the things up for me. They only reluctantly picked up one potential hazard, but was very resentful about picking up the others.

I had a difficult time understanding their lack of response,especially knowing it could possibly cause an unsafe walking environment.

I just had to ask for Picking Up Grace. Christ, let me know that mainly, I just had to stop talking. No amount of trying to explain why the situation was unsafe was going to make a positive difference. 

Mind Changing Grace

We were getting together with others for dinner and and another couple was doing all the cooking. One of the couples invited contacted me to see about bringing a relative to the dinner. I contacted the hosts who were very gracious about the added dinner guest.

Then, I got word that they didn't think they were going to come. Later, they thought they were coming afterall, which would have been fine.

They must have contacted me two or three times besides that saying they were and then weren't coming. There's a part of me that wanted to say, "Could you just make up your minds?" Of course, I wouldn't have been a good example of Christ's Grace if I had said that. 

Instead, I asked for Mind Changing Grace. Actually, what came to mind was all the times I changed my mind when I made decisions when I was younger. Christ didn't just give me grace, so that I didn't say something rude, He also gave me compassion for their situation.

Driving Advice Grace

I was recently driving with another adult riding with me. While I was driving, the other person directed me to, "Go now!" This happened several times while we were in the car together.

I think my first instinct is to rationalize why I wanted to wait to turn until it felt safer. Then, I usually, end up getting frustrated for the person's feelings of superiority and bossiness.

In times like that, I really would like to say something like, "When you're driving, you can turn when you want to," but that wouldn't be very gracious. Instead, I said a brief prayer asking for Driving Advice Grace. Fortunately for me, Christ calmed me down and I no longer felt like responding with a less than gracious reply.

Shared Food Grace

I happened to be near someone who had previously been given a variety of packaged and canned foods. I got the impression that this food was shared with this person because of a perceived financial need, which in my opinion was a really nice thing for them to do.

I personally was appalled that the person who had been given this food had nothing grateful to say about it. The discussion was complaining about the food choices, where they came from and what the motives were for giving those particular food items, as if someone had a secret motive in giving those particular items of food.

It was difficult for me to not say something about being more grateful instead of complaining, but instead I said a brief prayer asking for Shared Food Grace. I had a difficult time understanding the resentment of the person who received the food, but I don't have to understand in order to respond with grace. Fortunately, Christ took care of that for me!

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?