It can feel easier to give encouragement than to receive it. We know how to offer kindness to someone else, yet we may treat ourselves as though rest and care must always be earned.
At the heart of Christian grace is an invitation to receive God’s love. We come with our limitations and our need for forgiveness. We do not have to assemble a flawless version of ourselves before we pray.
Receiving love can shape the way we live with others. It can make an apology more honest, gratitude more specific, and generosity less concerned with recognition. Grace gives us reasons to grow without reducing us to our mistakes.
Take a quiet moment today to receive before you try to accomplish. Name one gift for which you are thankful. Ask for the grace to share that kindness with the next person you meet.