What is “grace?”
Grace
- Seemingly effortless beauty or charm of movement, form, or proportion.
- A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement.
- A sense of fitness or propriety.
- A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill. Mercy; clemency.
- A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.
- A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve.
- Graces Greek & Roman Mythology. Three sister goddesses, known in Greek mythology as Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, who dispense charm and beauty.
- Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people. The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God. An excellence or power granted by God.
- A short prayer of blessing or thanksgiving said before or after a meal.
- Grace Used with His, Her, or Your as a title and form of address for a duke, duchess, or archbishop.
- Music. An appoggiatura, trill, or other musical ornanment in the music of 16th and 17th century England.
There are days when I wonder why I take up space and consume resources. What good do I possibly do? I feel that no matter what effort I expend, it’s not enough. Sometimes I think too much about this, becoming absorbed with my ego. What I need at these times is a reminder that I matter, but not in the egocentric way. Rather, I need reminding that every day, the smallest action on my part has an impact, for good or ill, whether or not I know it. It is helpful at these times to recall as many situations as I can in which I participated with Creation toward a greater good. We are instruments of grace in this world, whether we demonstrate it with a kind deed, make a welcoming atmosphere for someone, forgive a wrong, or extend compassion in heart and action toward another.
The moment of grace comes to us in the dynamics of any situation we walk into. It is an opportunity that God sews into the fabric of a routine situation. It is a chance to do something creative, something helpful, something healing, something that makes one unmarked spot in the world better off for our having been there. We catch it if we are people of discernment.
–Lewis B. Smedes, A Pretty Good Person
Describe an incident (or more than one) when you were in the right place at the right time and the world was a better place because of what you did.
–taken from 100 Ways to Keep Your Soul Alive: Living Deeply and Fully Every Day