How Sweet the Sound

I think grace is so beautiful. In his book, What's So Amazing About Grace?, Philip Yancey states that grace is the last truly good word left. I would agree. I've been witness to the impact of both grace and ungrace (which I'm sure isn't a word). If you think about it, nothing bad ever comes from a situation when grace is the victor. Grace isn't taught or practiced enough. In our society, if one feels injured by another, it is that person's right to hold it against the injuring party. The problem with that equation is that the injured party all of a sudden becomes as guilty as the one who initially injured them. The only way to change the outcome is to not engage in the hurt and sin the other party began. When I read in Hebrews 12 not to let any "seed of bitterness creep in", I take that to mean it's for my good not to engage in the cycle of bitterness and "ungrace". More than that, it brings God glory when I choose to love and chose to show grace. I suppose, for the believer, it is only that much more our duty to choose grace because we know grace is what saved us. Grace is what keeps us from being utterly worthless and disgusting in the eyes of our Father. In Ezekiel, God spoke about how it wasn't because Israel was anything to be desired that He chose them but quite the opposite. There was no question that it was by His unmerited favor that He decided to make an everlasting covenant. In the same way, we experience that unmerited favor daily from the Lord. Why wouldn't we show that kind of grace to others? It's not simple and it is not easy but it is beautiful. I've seen my family be torn a part because of the unwillingness to show grace. Pride and hurt feelings dictated the course of action which led to years of pain that we can never get back. Something unexpected happened about two years ago, though, a shift of sorts. My family started to choose grace and forgiveness. In the last two years, I have seen the most beautiful transformation take place. Everything changed! The heaviness in their voices changed to something loving and light. Even physically, changes started to take place! Lines started to disappear, laughter invaded the lips, light shone in the eyes, youthful innocence settled in to the places where hurt and pride previously resided. It was like a light all of a sudden came over them. Lets start living from a place of grace. The world needs us to be grace.