Close to a month ago, I started noticing themes about grace everywhere I turned.
A sermon at church made me think about grace for others.
A post I read on Facebook made me think more about grace.
A blog I read from a friend of mine talked about being kind to others and to ourselves.
Discussions between granddaughters about the way they look in pictures.
Thoughts of my "failure" of getting a blog post out every week.
After a couple of weeks, I knew beyond any doubt that God was trying to get my attention - and that it centered around grace. But I tried to dismiss it by doing things I do quite often:
It wasn't God trying to get my attention;
I was putting my own spin into what I was hearing and reading; and
I didn't really need growth in the area of grace; I felt that I do a good job of giving grace.
Trying to dismiss all the "signs" became too difficult as it continued to be shown to me. I saw a mom in a store having trouble with an angry child. People were giving looks of disgust, annoyance, and judgment. Then I heard a grandchild putting herself down about something that wasn't done perfectly. I think the last straw was when I caught myself talking about my looks in pictures.
So I've fully embraced the theme of grace and decided it needs to be my word for 2024. When I was truly looking at the verse above, a word jumped out at me. Peter said we "must" grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are told to not stay as infants, but to grow in our grace and our knowledge.
I don't know what all this will encompass but here are some things I do know:
I am terrible about giving grace to myself. Not only is that keeping me from growth - I know my grandchildren watch me and I wonder if I've taught them to be tough on themselves.
God gives me grace so often - so who do I think I am to not do the same - and how has that affected my relationship with Him?
How can I truly give grace to others when I don't do the same for myself? I can't give out what I don't have within me!
My Plan
I know myself well enough that I know I need some accountability to keep this focus going and I have a two-fold plan.
I've private messaged a friend in a writing group and we are going to support and encourage each other. She has chosen her word also and we can keep each other on track.
This blog is my second part of the plan. I plan to blog weekly about this journey. I know there will be weeks that are good, where I've kept my focus on God and growth in grace. I know there will be weeks that are not good, where I've turned my eyes to other things and lost focus. And I know that there will be some ugly weeks when I won't want to post at all! But I do know that those weeks that I fail, God will give me grace, and I am going to try and do the same for myself.
I pray you will join me by reading and engaging with my posts. I pray God blesses this journey. And I pray that this will be a journey of growth!
Vickie
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