Glimpses of Grace

Grace. It's a beautiful thing.

I think we might all raise our hands to be on the receiving end of grace.

How often are you on the giving side of grace?

Maybe you’re thinking, grace in which context?

Wow! There were so many definitions of grace (dictionary.com), don't worry, I didn’t list them all here, but do look them up if you’re curious.

For the purpose of the 5Gs for Gaining Growth, we’re looking at this definition of grace: Favor or goodwill

Granting grace (favor or goodwill) to yourself or to others - which comes easier for you?

I struggle to extend grace to myself, even if I have given grace to someone else for the very same situation (crazy right?).

It can be easy to forget what granting yourself grace or favor looks or feels like.

It can also be challenging to extend grace to others, especially if we feel wronged.

Sigh.

Life is full of challenges, misunderstandings, and mistakes, both big and small.

Grace puts us on the path to help us navigate these moments with compassion and understanding.

When we practice grace, we foster our relationships , reduce tension, and create a more nurturing environment for growth.

On the flip side, when we withhold grace, the effects can be brutal: strained relationships, self-criticism, and a tendency to hold onto bitterness.

Without grace, we may find ourselves stuck in cycles of frustration and guilt, unable to move forward.

And no one likes to be stuck.

Perhaps it helps to look at the synonyms of grace in order to put it into action.

You can trade out the word grace for mercy, forgiveness, compassion, generosity, goodness, kindness, love, tenderness, charity, favor, and reprieve.

Do one of these lovely terms resonate?

Grace given to ourselves allows us to embrace our imperfections, let go of unrealistic expectations, and focus on growth instead of guilt.

When we give grace to others, it builds trust, deepens connections, and creates space for mutual understanding.

Best of all, it mirrors the very character of God - it is a reflection of the grace he has bestowed upon us - it is exactly the reason we can extend it to others in the first place.

Ephesians 4:32 reminds us, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Grace-filled moments can begin simply.

And even if it doesn’t feel natural, be kind to yourself, and keep at it.

Practical action you can take to breathe grace into your daily situations are:

1. Pause Before Reacting: When someone makes a mistake or disappoints you, take a deep breath before responding.

2. Reframe the Situation: Instead of focusing on what went wrong, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” or “How can I respond in a way that strengthens this relationship?”

3. Practice Self-Compassion: Speak to yourself with the same kindness you would offer a close friend. Mistakes are part of being human.

4. Seek Understanding: When conflict arises, listen more and assume positive intent. Most of the time, people aren’t acting out of malice but out of their own struggles.

By leaning into these practices, each of us can create healthier relationships and a deeper sense of inner peace.

Your Enneagram Type can shine some light to reveal how you might excel or struggle when granting grace to yourself and to others.

There’s a lot of Enneagram information packed in, so we’re linking the Guide to Gaining Growth Strategy #2 | Grace for you to soak in.

In the guide, we’ve shared how grace might be expressed and practiced for each type and how God's grace can be extended to each type and how they can reflect His grace to themselves and others…it’s so good for the heart - we hope you’ll read it.​

Grace isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it.

Grace will transform the way we handle mistakes and conflict.

It will replace blame and defensiveness with healing and collaboration (not overnight, but slowly it will change our hearts and shift our perspective).

As we embrace grace in our daily lives, we’ll find that it not only uplifts those around us, but also transforms us in profound ways.

Which area of your life needs a little grace?

We’d be honored for you to share it with us.

We read and respond to every email - we would love to see you in our inbox.

Creating grace-filled moments with you,

Katie and Kristan

>> Are you ready to take a few steps towards graceful transformation and you’d like a guide to join you on the journey, we offer a 30-minute complimentary Discovery Call.

>> Not sure which Enneagram Type you are? We’d love to help you discover it in a Typing Session or you can try our Enneagram Assessment and narrow it down.

💚"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

---> If you missed last week's email or the guidesheet for Strategy #1| Go, you can find it on our Freebies page.