This season, I’ve been thinking about the ways in which I’m lucky, and there are many. Not everyone gets to be married to her best friend, have a one-year-old son who teaches her daily about the blessing of unexpected, unadulterated joy, lives in an old farmhouse she fixed up with her hubs, and has a creative job, supportive family and good health. I love my work, my clients, my family, my dog, my garden, and the views from so many windows. It’s an embarrassment of riches. We may have won the lottery, you guys. I don’t need a number on a bank statement to tell me that.

The sin would be to look in away in ambition for something that is not in God’s plan. The sin would be to take it for granted. I want to sit with my blessings. I want to look to the heavens in gratitude and whisper “thank you.” Yes, I get tired and grumpy and impatient and find aspects of life confusing and disappointing, but right now, I’m feeling the overflow of grace.

There are military service men and women who will not be home for the holidays. There are people around us who’ve lost someone they loved recently and wonder if they will ever be the same. There are others who lost someone years ago during this time of year and are revisiting and re-experiencing that annual pain. Some of our brothers and sisters are not employed and they are scared. Some are trying to remain hopeful during a transition in life that is secretly freaking them out. People are fragile and the holidays are filled with so much joy, that it breaks my heart to think that the overflow doesn’t cover everyone. But we all know that it doesn’t.

It is not my job or in my disposition to give advice, admonish or preach, so let me just say this: We all need more of the daily type of grace. Grace in life, the grace of God, is free. If you have and know it, take a minute – take a day – take a season to practice gratitude to the one who made ya. 
But try to remember to show grace to others. Forgive the nonsense that is otherwise infuriating. Take the high road. It’s usually not crowded up there.

My wish for the rest of this season and for all of 2019 – as we set new goals, seek love, and the rewards of our professional labors – is for all of us to acknowledge the small graces given to us by others and to give grace every chance we get. Take a beat – act as though your mama or the child you’re modeling good behavior for – is right there next to you and decide to be the soothing hand. Be the silent force. Grace is not a standing ovation with an arena of applause. It tiptoes in, does the right thing, and then leaves without fanfare.

I want more of that!