Giving Myself Grace: Learning a Lesson

2020.

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seriously.  It wasn't all bad.

It's been a year of change, transition, uncomfort, pain, and growth.  But through it all, a word kept being brought to the forefront of my mind.  Have grace with yourself and others.

What does that even mean?  How I think about it is, is that grace is allowing you and others to go through what they go through, and not take it personal.

Great example. I was with my mom in the grocery store, and a friend was saving a spot for us in the line, so we could grab a few items.  When we rejoined her in line, this elderly man behind us, proceeded to have a temper tantrum.  Full blown, 3 year old that doesn't want to leave Chuck E Cheese type tantrum.   Plus he was being rude and cursing at my mama.  

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One thing you should know.  I don't play about my parents.  My mom was nice and gracious and shut him down, but I gave him the "you will drop dead where you stand if you say one more word to her", then turned around.  Then I doubled back for good measure.    

After the whole encounter was over, I was telling my mom that you never know what he was going through.  He was alone, but clearly was shopping for not just him.  He could have had a sick wife/partner at home, and that was stressing him out.  Or he could have had financial troubles and this was the first time that he was able to get the provisions that he truly needed. or he could have just been a grumpy man.

I DON'T KNOW but I still gave him grace in that situation. I didn't have to, but I felt that I needed to.

This holiday season, be kind, show grace and give a little more socially distanced love that you planned on doing.  Drop a card in a mail unexpectedly, call someone and make them smile.. SOMETHING.

Wishing you a hopeful and kind holiday season, loves.

xo, 

Jannon