Don’t Just Say Grace During the Holidays: Give It as Well

This time of year, we all gather around the table with our family and friends. And usually right before we partake of a glorious meal, we all grab hands, bow our heads and say grace. We give thanks for all the blessings that have come our way throughout the year. It’s an important tradition in so many households. And we should always say grace, but we should be willing to give grace as well. Not just during the holiday season, but throughout the entire year.

What does it mean to give grace? We’ve heard the phrase used a hundred times but often struggle to define it. It can often refer to something itty bitty, something that doesn’t require much other than a small favor. Other times, it can call for a huge act of forgiveness. Giving grace is a free pass for someone’s poor behavior or misspoken words. It’s difficult sometimes because we may not always feel the other person is deserving.

But we never fully understand someone else’s situation. We only know what they show us and that is rarely everything. Old hurts hide in dark places and pain runs deep. When people lash out or say unkind things, it is not a reflection on us. It is a mirror held up to the anguish they are feeling in the moment. How we respond in kind is our own mirror. What kind of reflection do you want to see staring back at you?

Giving grace is going out of our way to give compassion, kindness and love to someone even if they might not appreciate it, or return the favor. In the grand scheme of things, it is choosing to act positively towards someone who might even hate the sight of us, or have done wrong to us in the past. We don’t give grace for the sake of others. We give grace for sake of ourselves because we never know when we will need to be on the receiving end of that same grace.

As we go about our business for the remainder of the season, let’s all remember to not just say grace during the holidays, but to sprinkle it over those we encounter as well. Give the gift of grace. You’ll never regret it.