Grace, Not Perfection

I have a t-shirt that says, I operate under grace not perfection.  Yesterday, I had it on and a young woman commented on it.  It seems she had heard something similar at church the day before.  We talked about it and I told her, "It's just about showing others the love of Jesus, not be perfect."  She said that she needed to hear that and that she would take it as a Word from God.  That's exactly what it was.  I thought to say other things but The Lord told me it's just about the love.

So many of us have set standards for ourselves that God has not set for us.  Yes, there are things that we are supposed to do and not do.  But all of these should come out of our love for Him.  Not because we have to do it to earn His love or a ticket to heaven.  The more we learn about Jesus Christ, the more we fall in love with Him.  The more we fall in love with Him, the more we want to serve Him by doing the right things and sharing His love with others.

It is by grace that we are able to accomplish these things.  Grace is the gift that keeps on giving.  It is gifted to us by The Lord anytime we pray.  It is gifted to us whenever we go to church to worship Him.  It is gifted to us when we hear His voice and follow His will.  As a Catholic, I believe that I receive an abundance of graces from going to reconciliation and receiving eucharist.  Graces that enable us to grow in our understanding of what is required of us on our journey.  Grace that enables us to love Him more.  Grace to love others more.

Grace also can enable us to be more in sync with the Holy Spirit that lives within each of us.  Being able to go to Him and hear His voice and follow His direction.  Grace can open our eyes to see the needs of those we encounter on a daily basis and give us the courage to reach out to them.  Grace gives us the right words to say and the right things to do.

All of us have our struggles and sometimes just acknowledging that in the other helps.  Sharing a word of love, compassion, understanding.  Giving that much needed pat on the hand, squeeze of the shoulder, or a sincerely loving hug.  Grace can provide us with the deep well of love that comes from The Lord that we always have to give to others.

This is what it's all about.  Not being perfect.  It is all about love.  Loving The Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul and loving one another as He has loved us.  He died for us so that we might live and have life abundantly.  He did not die for us to walk on eggshells trying to be perfect.  He was, is, and will always be the only perfection.  His sacrifice has given us this gift of life and of love.  His love for us and our love for Him give us the grace that we need to live to serve Him and in turn, serve others.

So don't beat yourself up if you aren't perfect, if you stumble, even if you fall.  He is there to pick you up, fill you with grace, and to help you to do better next time.  Life is not a test.  It's a journey towards a life with Him for eternity.  Oh Happy Day!