Grace is undeserved forgiveness or credit. In AP English during my senior year of high school, I was extremely distracted. I turned in a paper and got it back with a low but passing grade and the word Grace (written with the sparkly pens she always used for grading--I had to admire that). I always think of that when I hear or see the word. Many time, I wanted to write that on my own students' work.
But grace is also a quality people have--a way of moving and interacting. Cinderella descending the staircase at the ball and then remaining calm when the prince arrived. One of the best compliments I've received was "Were you a ballerina?"
I like the sound of the word. It would be a lovely name though a constant reminder could be maddening for an awkward girl.
I guess we can also bestow grace on people...the small or medium annoyance or mistake that I choose not to mention. The hurtful comment that I just let go. Thinking about this makes me want to find a rubber stamp with grace in beautiful script and then go around stamping things.
Even in the most painful situations or ongoing realities, grace is present. I've seen it with my son. The grace that glows around him isn't just for him--it's for us as we remember how blessed we are to have him. And we know that every challenge can make us better parents for him.
Beautiful and true.
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