Grace

Today’s Julian date is 100. It’s the 100th day of the year.

Yeah. I know. We joked about how January went on forever, February was over before we knew it… even with the extra day for Leap Year, and March was… March was… Shit, it still feels like March because many of us were too confused to celebrate April Fool’s Day!

In the days after my last post, Mercy, I felt nudges – a song for one – to post about grace next. I thought it would come to me easily, but it didn’t because I went down the rabbit hole of, “What is grace?”

Merriam-Webster.com provides definitions of “grace” as a noun and a verb, and my mother and father had no shortage of opportunities to remind me that I did nothing with grace – dancing, playing violin or piano, expressing my thoughts or feelings – I simply am not graceful. That’s an entire other set of stories for that type of “grace”.

The “grace” that partners with “mercy” is the one for which I found a comparison on Christianity.com, the one about which I asked my priest brother. It’s the grace one might receive from a merciful God in Christianity.

Here we are on the 100th day of this year, and if you celebrate Easter, then today is a big day for you – Good Friday.

I know! I figured out what day of the week it is!!! Yay!!! LOLz

“…Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve; grace is God giving us something we do not deserve.”

– CompellingTruth.com

I asked my brother about this description because 1. He is a priest, and 2. I am not a Christian. I’m not an anything, but I learn and am inspired by both non-fiction and fiction… so I guess there’s that. ~shrug~ My brother advised me that’s a good nutshell way of comparing “mercy” and “grace”.

I also ran across this:

“Mercy and grace are two sides of a coin – and the coin is love. In the author’s own words, mercy is a compassionate love to the weak, and grace is a generous love to the unworthy.”

– Christianity.com

Whether or not you have religious beliefs, anyone can be guided by LOVE to “do the right thing”. The duality of a coin of love makes sense. Or cents. bwahahaha

When I became a mother, I learned that my love for my Keets was the compass that helped me make the best decisions. When I truly followed love over fear, I felt at peace with whatever I chose. Some of those decisions weren’t the easiest route, but in all things, I wanted my Keets to feel happy, safe, and loved. I also learned that I may not be graceful per my parents’ observations and criticism, but I received a more valuable grace through something divine – the grace that comes from loving others.

Today I was thinking about families who have Easter traditions, and with many of us under stay-at-home orders, the social gatherings are not allowed. If we consider OTHERS before ourselves, we are best able to love and protect each other. If we let ego rule, would we be able to bear the burden of being THAT person? The one who turned out to be Patient A1.1 among our families or friends?

Today and through the weekend, please believe that you are worthy of your own grace and peace. Please find your way through introspection to that little light of yours and let it shine without physically visiting your family and friends. All of this technology! We can do this! Watch the Easter morning sunrise from your own home and sing your favorite hymn.

Find your way to the heart of your faith.

Find the love within you that kicks your ego to the side.

Share kindness. Show compassion. Express gratitude.

Be safe. Be well. Keep others safe and well.

Give peace. Receive peace. Be thankful.

Luceat lux vestra.