Christmas prayers: grace

Grace for Christians trends towards Biblical meanings, coupled along tightly with our faith. But to fully feel the roots of grace, it behooves us to step to the side a moment & view grace outside of the lens of our faith. I know, I know, it seems so upside down & inside out. Never underestimate the power of stepping outside our comfort zones though-it has an ability to stretch our souls & strengthen faith.

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Old Latin defines   grace as 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘴: (an intertwined noun & verb) the offering of thanks, mercy, pardon. Classical Latin retained the word 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘴, modernizing its declension. For a language deep rooted in 12 BC mountainous tribal beliefs mingled with Roman conquest, the offering of mercy was not an everyday, flippant response. It required one to intentionally step outside their human instincts & offer empathy & kindness to someone who might not have earned that grace. It’s a very interesting word study. As Ancient Rome conquered more of Europe, forms of the word  grace appear in their tongue. Even before the ministry of Jesus on this earth, mankind has distinctly understood that they needed grace.

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𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙤.

𝙃𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚, 𝙨𝙤 𝙃𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙪𝙨 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚.

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Grace, wrapped in swaddling cloth to a young girl who chose to embrace the unimaginable journey God laid before her. Grace, born amongst mankind to save mankind. No matter what lens you look through, this Grace is an otherworldly offering of mercy and pardon.

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When man fell, God sent Grace to lift us up.

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𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘎𝘰𝘥. Nᴇʜᴇᴍɪᴀʜ‬ ‭9:31‬ ‭