Good morning…
At our final Friday gathering of the semester, we shared the memorable words, quotes, and insights we loved best from Parker Palmer’s Let Your Life Speak. In the course of our life-giving conversation, one of the women told us of an acronym her minister had recently shared. “Some asked me to repeat,” she emailed later, “so here it is.”
GrACE:
Be Grateful and not entitled
r
Be Available and not hurried
Be Curious and not self-centered
Be Encouraging and not critical
She added, “These words greet me each morning on my bathroom mirror.”
As we talked she also said, “I don’t think he could come up with a good ‘R’ word, so that is why the ‘r’ is little.” In my mind, well-loved “R” words began to bubble up.
Restful.
Renewed.
Restored.
Resurrected.
Rejuvenated.
Prayerfully pondering, I settled on my favorite “R” phrase. “Be Renewed and not stagnant.” Over time our false self sheds. Less entitlement. Less stagnation. Less hurry. Less self-centeredness. Less critical of self and others. God’s G.R.A.C.E. abounds as our true self emerges: Grateful. Renewed. Available. Curious. Encouraging.
[Growing in grace] they will still thrive and bear fruit and prosper in old age; They will flourish and be vital and fresh [rich in trust and love and contentment] (Psalm 92:14, AMP).
…Sue…
