Amazing Grace

Grace. I am finally getting what it is all about, and it is changing me. All my life I have heard about God's love for me and his grace. I even taught lessons on these topics, discussed them with girls I mentored, and thanked God for them. The problem was, I hadn't accepted these things myself; I didn't experience them in my life. It has only been recently that I have been awakened to what grace truly is and what it feels like to live under it. And let me tell you...it feels mighty nice.

Understanding more about the gift that grace is, and living under it, has freed/is freeing me from my cage of attempted perfectionism and trying in vain to earn God's approval. This was my m.o. for years, and it ate me up inside. I always wondered why I was so hesitant to share my faith with others. I now realize it was because I was living under such an immense burden and subconsciously did not desire to pass that along to others. The renewal of my mind and heart has been slow, but somewhere in the past two years, my eyes have been opened. The fact that I am loved as I am, and that God will never love me less, no matter what mess I might find myself in, will forever blow my mind.

The last two days, Dan and I have been processing a rather difficult situation together. It had potential to be destructive, but grace won out. I've been reflecting lately on the idea that all things come from God--even the desire and ability to choose grace over shaming and judging. Between Dan and I, love and acceptance was given and healing has come. Want to know one of the most incredible experiences in the world? Giving grace freely and genuinely from a heart that knows what it is like to have been forgiven and loved. Good stuff.