The Gift of Grace

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. EPHESIANS 4:32 ESV 

I was honored to share a reading at my friend Danielle’s wedding last year. She wanted some marriage advice from her “Christian author friend” (LOL—her words, not mine). No pressure, right? I prayed a lot about what I should write, and I kept coming back to the idea of grace. You could tell the crowd was a little uncomfortable when I boldly started my little speech with “Grace is giving someone what they don’t deserve.” They stared at each other, totally thinking I misspoke. But I’m no amateur with a mic in my hand, so I confidently said with a laugh, “You didn’t mishear me. Grace is giving someone what they DON’T deserve.” 

If you have a bad day, and you come home grouchy and moody, what you deserve is for your spouse to be grouchy and rude right back at you. But grace is forgiveness. Grace is the benefit of the doubt. Grace is remembering why you fell in love with your spouse in the first place and believing the best. Grace is open arms and a smile, maybe a glass of iced tea or your favorite meal. Grace is a gift, and it says more about you than it does about the other person. Many times God’s abundant grace is definitely not what we deserve, but it’s always what He gives us. Grace isn’t always the easiest choice, but it’s always the right choice. How can you show grace today? 

TODAY, I PRAISE GOD FOR... 

This is an excerpt from 100 Days of Praise & Positivity by Maghon Taylor - a devotional journal now available on DaySpring.com. Shop all books, journals, and devotions from DaySpring here.