We all know the acronym GRACE – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. But what does that mean? How do you translate that into your life? What are God’s riches that we receive because of Jesus’ death on the cross at Easter? I am asking myself just as I am asking you to meditate and journal perhaps on your ideas and beliefs here and if you don’t know, maybe do a bit of reading to see if you can find some answers.

As a practicing Christian, I believe in the grace given because of the cross. I realize that some here my not know the love or sacrifice of Jesus life and death on the cross but that doesn’t mean you can’t live in the state of grace.

In one of my readings in Daily Om, this is how they described Grace. “Grace exists inside of all of us and around us. It is our inner beauty that radiates outward, touching everyone we meet.  It is that unseen hand that comes from the divine, raising us up when we most need it. To be able to live in a state of grace is not based on worthiness, nor is it earned through good deeds, ritual, or sacrifice. Rather it is an unearned favor, freely bestowed and available to all, that is inherent to our birthright. All we must do is open our eyes to its presence and we will find and experience grace everywhere. 

Grace is in the rain bringing relief to drought-ridden farms, and the unexpected lead for the perfect job opportunity that comes from a stranger. Grace is what happens to someone when they miraculously escape injury; it is even the simple events that happen to us that we call “good luck,” like when we don’t get a parking ticket after are meter has expired. Grace resides in the love between two people, and in the acts of forgiveness we extend. It is grace that moves us to go out of our way to help a stranger.” Grace is dropping your to do list to be there for someone who is hurting and needs comfort or care. Grace is seeing a need and filling it; mowing the elderly neighbor’s lawn, making a meal for a sick friend, writing a note to let someone know they are being thought of. Grace is the state we are in when we are doing nothing but just being who we are. 

To live a more gracious life means we accept the desire to live in a state of grace. “Knowing we are graced gives us hope, makes us more generous, and allows us to trust that we are taken care of even when we are going through difficult times. Grace is our benevolence of heart, and our generosity of spirit. Grace is unconditional love and the beauty that is our humanity. When we know that we are blessed with grace, we can’t help but want to live our lives in harmony.”

May the grace and peace of God be with you today and every day. May you be filled with the power of the Divine to live graciously and to see places where you can extend grace and notice where grace has and is being given.