Doing Good, Giving Grace

WHY DONT WE JUST TRY AND MAKE THE BEST OF TODAY AND TOMORROW (& the next day & the next day & the next day & the next day & the next day & the next day & the next day & the next)

This summer I've spent a fair amount of time at home, with my parents, brothers & 6 pets. It's safe to say there's never really a "dull" moment here at the house.  One moment the dog has escaped, or the sprinkler system has malfunctioned, or some of my brother's friends show up for supper & a spontaneous night of playing cards… There's work to do, meals to cook, laundry to fold, dust bunnies to catch, a garden to weed, 2 acres to mow, etc. I love it, it keeps me busy. I try to make the most of it; to truly love & appreciate my family while I'm here…

“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” -John Westley

Wow, did ya get that? Thats pretty much doing good e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. Doing good is usually fun, I mean helping people or animals gives any of us a good feeling inside, right? But we are all selfish beings, who have the tendency to do bad - even when we are doing good. We have the tendency to do good, only when we "feel" like it. So often we do good, while looking sideways, or we do it begrudgingly, & have conceited thoughts in our hearts. If ya think about that, we'll both find that we haven't done as much good as we've fooled ourselves into thinking we have.

I'm preaching to myself here!! I need to do good because I have a Savior who set the ultimate example of selflessly doing good for bad people, like me. When I'm having a hard time doing good, or I get bogged down - I need to remind myself that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. All things I do reflect what I believe - & I believe in doing all things as unto Christ - because he did everything for you & me.

Sometimes, it's easy for me to get frustrated while thinking about people, possibilities, work, relationships, & the (generally beautiful) mess that life is. Each day is an irreplaceable gift, & yet I get easily distracted by stupid things that don't matter or affect me. Compare-ism is the thief of joy & contentedness…I need to stop comparing myself to people.  I need to be comparing myself to Christ!  I need to always make the most of life. I need to do good, at work, to others, my family, (& myself for that matter). I need to strive for greater things. I need to focus on what is at hand, I need to genuinely care for others & make the most of everything. I need to give grace - I have received grace (time & time again) by the people in my life - & I have received unconditional grace from my Heavenly Father. I am so undeserving, & yet he loves me, does good for me, & gives me grace when I am at my worst.

Anyways. All this to say, don't lose time, make the most of it. Yesterday is the past, what can you learn from it? We all have a few scars, but by God's grace we can move forwards. Tomorrow is a mystery, so don't bother stressing about it. As a Christian, I know that God already has everything figured out for me, so I don't need to worry about it. (Sounds easy right? But actually its hard not to worry, something I always need to be working on - deeply trusting God & his infinite plan that is sprinkled with amazing grace.) Today? Well, there's no time like the present. Today is a gift - savor each precious moment. This moment is your life - & its bursting with flavor & spice! We need to be good stewards of our lives & with what we have been given. Sometimes life can get crappy, & bad things happen & pain demands to be felt. Sometimes we've gotta take what we're served. But we can try to fix it when we don't like it, just make the most of it. Be content with what you have. Receive & give grace.

Let's get out of the woods & into the path. Lets try to see things clearly, tread lightly, & live fearlessly. Let's do good. Let's live intentionally. Let's see the beauty around us - so many people "get used" to beauty - So I challenge you to do good, give grace, & keep the wonder with your eyes wide open.… Never stop seeing beauty, its everywhere, & can be found in unlikely places…

-GB

P.S.  My name is Grace, in case you didn't know. If ya look the word up in the dictionary, the definition is: simple elegance or refinement of movement. (Funny, because I'm actually a klutzy adult, who is always tripping over everything. I get lots of "graceful" jokes.) The 2nd definition of 'grace' is: the free & unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners & bestowal of blessings.