Traveling Grace road…

Grace is such a powerful word, in fact, I believe one of the most powerful words in the universe…

Welcome to my Study where I like to be creative & also take time to be reflective, will you join me in a cuppa dear friend while we enjoy our time of reflection together…

Today, I have a new French lady grey tea, brewed in my new teapot to sip in its matching cup, a set that I won at the High Tea at Christmas.

As you can see I have an eclectic decor in combining the styles of shabby chic with classical pieces. The oil candle is emanating a beautiful aroma from the perfume of white musk, which is my all time favorite fragrance.

Shall we begin our reflection…

Words can be very powerful things…Don’t you think…They can either bring life or death to a person or situation!

I experienced this in my role as a clinical counselor & therapist, many patients presented with deeply wounded spirits. These wounds quite often had been inflicted by words, words that had been used as weapons of destruction…

However, it was also words of understanding, words of encouragement, words in perspective & words of truth that eventually bought healing to those same patients.

In the past I haven’t had the practice of ‘a word for the year’ as many do, until last year. When the word Majestical kept cropping up. I first heard it in a movie but then it kept coming to mind in so many different situations & applications throughout the year. Especially around the majestical things of God & His creation.

As 2019 approached the word Grace kept coming to mind over & over again. So I pondered upon this…

Having known & experienced God’s grace in my life for nearing 40 years…beginning in My story. I wondered why the word Grace kept invading my thoughts! I finally realized that this was the word for 2019…

Shall we take a closer look at;

Grace

Modern dictionaries define Grace as the following;

• A fluid & elegant movement,
• A courteous good will,
• Bringing honor to a person or occasion with one’s presence,
• Divine unmerited favor, love or help.

I also looked at the origin of this word, as I find the history of the English language rather fascinating…research can lead to discovering a deeper meaning & definition to the word then may be used today.

The word Grace has a very long history…it began in ancient Hebrew times when Oral history was passed down from one generation to the next. The written word originated around 5,000 years ago as the Hebrew word ‘Chen’ from its root word of ‘Chanan’ which means to extend kindness to one, from above.

It was then translated into Greek as ‘Charis’ meaning love, kindness & life. Then translated into Latin as ‘Gratus’ meaning thankful for a pleasing thoughtfulness. Then Middle English translated it into the word Grace ~ meaning grateful for a kindness & life from above!

Wow! So from its origins in ancient Hebrew times to the present, Grace is defined as;

• Extending kindness to one, from above.
• Love, kindness & life.
• Thankful for a pleasing thoughtfulness.
• Gratefulness for kindness & life from above.
• A fluid elegant movement.
• A courteous good will.
• Bringing honor to a person by One’s presence.
• Divine unmerited favour, love or help.

Grace has been extended to us from the beginning of Oral history & handed down through the ages, having been translated from one language to another. It has not lost anything in translation but has gained a richer fulness to its definition & meaning…

Making grace personal…

In the last 6 weeks certain unexpected events have occurred in my life, which I shared in The unexpected emergency… & in Ouch! That hurt! Emotional pain… 

During the recent emergency with my husband, we experienced a display of seamless fluidity in God’s extension of His amazing Grace to us, which I shared in Grace in the unexpected…. The other situation gave me the opportunity to extend that same Grace to another.

Although situations in our lives may seem daunting at times dear friend, as in my husband’s recent emergency & even painful when others hurt us.

The Grace from above is always extended to us! Allowing us in return to extend that same grace out to others.

“…grace, God’s unmerited favor, is given to each of us individually, in different ways, in proportion to the measure of Christ’s rich & bounteous  gift.”

Ephesians 4: 7 Refer 2

So then, 2019 appears to be a year I will be traveling on the road of discovery, experiencing new depths to Grace…God’s grace.

I find this rather exciting & yes, just a little daunting at the same time! The journey has just begun, so stay tuned!

Until next time…

Jennifer

 

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