grace

grace…
it’s a name we give our daughters,
a word we sing in songs,
something we strive to possess,
something we beg for…

and it’s free.

we just have to choose to accept it and extend it.

“the Lord is compassionate and GRACious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed and he remembers that we are dust.” (psalm 103: 8-14)

we named our daughter, gracie, after a song by ben folds. she turns that song on and dances around like a princess. her eyes light up every time he sings her name, like it was written just for her. it was, i suppose. it makes her feel so special.  here are the lyrics to “gracie” by ben folds:

You can’t fool me, I saw you when you came out
You got your momma’s taste but you got my mouth
And you will always have a part of me
Nobody else is ever going to see
Gracie girl

With your cards to your chest walking on your toes
What you got in the box only Gracie knows
And I would never try to make you be
Anything you didn’t really want to be
Gracie girl

Life flies by in seconds
You’re not a baby Gracie, you’re my friend
You’ll be a lady soon but until then
You gotta do what I say

You nodded off in my arms watching TV
I won’t move you an inch even thought my arm’s asleep

One day you’re gonna want to go
I hope we taught you everything you need to know
Gracie girl

And there will always be a part of me
Nobody else is ever gonna see but you and me
My little girl
My Gracie girl

little did i know how powerful her name would be. it serves as a daily reminder to me that i need grace in my motherhood journey, and actually in all facets of my life. it makes me laugh because, well, gracie is not so graceful. she so clumsy it’s comical. strangers comment on her name as if they are searching for grace themselves. lately, i have been learning what it truly means to walk through this life with grace. 

God’s grace has been more tangible than ever to me. it appears in the ability to forgive. the desire to love. the drive to show compassion.