Grace Abounds Here

Like a right of passage, we’ve all experienced it. Through sweaty palms, butterflies in the stomach, or tense muscles, being the “new kid on the block” has a way of expressing itself differently in each of our life.

Due to some circumstances out of my control and others that were not, I found myself rushing to teach my first class at a new location, with a new staff team, and new kids. Changing into my staff shirt in the bathroom, I was trying to convince myself that I was ready.

Sweaty hands—check.
Butterflies in the stomach—check.
Tense muscles—got’em.

My lesson plan was ready and the supplies I needed to teach were buried in the oversize bag I carried. Having taught the subject before didn’t remove the feeling of being a “newbie.”

As the principle walked by she stopped and smiled at me.
“You okay?”
“Trying to figure everything out.” I replied. My arms were loaded down with all of the information and notebooks I should have picked up long before that first day.

“You’ll do fine, grace abounds here.” She disappeared into the school office.

Grace abounds here. Wow.

With those three words, my entire day changed. My lesson didn’t go as planned, some of the kids asked about the previous teacher, but with an over abundance of grace everything was okay.

I pray not just in the new situations you encounter, but with the everyday patterns of your reality, that you will find grace abounding.

Let me end with my interesting revelation; once grace was extended to me, I was able to give it to myself. Maybe that’s where I should have started.