Forgetful Grace

Have you ever been around someone who forgets what they said or did and they either say or do it again? I think we all have. I remember something my uncle said to me. He told me that the nicest thing you could do for a person is to listen with interest each and every time that someone tells you the same story. I really admired him for sharing that with me.

 Then, when I experience it at a later time, did was I as gracious as my uncle suggested? Well, almost not, but as I noticed the first signs of frustration, I asked Christ for Forgetful Grace and that frustration left me and it no longer mattered. I figured that if Christ took the frustration away, I needed to be more gracious in situations like this.

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?