My Word for 2024

I didn't choose it. It just popped into my head so I will run with it.

I hadn’t intended to do resolutions or set an intention, but I saw an experiment posted by Gabrielle Treanor. I am eagerly awaiting kindle delivery of her new book, so this was an easy way to jumpstart things on a 1% wellness journey. I had started thinking about what to choose for split second when the word popped into my head. My word is

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash

If you are a Christian, you will understand this word in a certain way, but I know many of my readers aren’t so I will try to look at grace from multiple angles, and I would appreciate learning about how other people define this word.

For me, grace is every generous gift in my life that I have done nothing to deserve. Grace is not a payment for “being good” or obeying the rules, it is not a transactional thing. For me as a Christian, it is God’s selfless gift of presence in my life.

Outside of Christian theology, grace has a broader definition. Grace is any unmerited gift or favor. Acting in a way that is selfless is bestowing grace. We can all give and receive grace from each other. In a world so divided, in a US election year, we could all benefit from more grace. We can stop belittling those who don’t think, act and look like us. A kind word, a helping hand when none is asked-these are moments of grace.

In terms of how I would like this word to guide me this year, these are my thoughts:

• Resist the divisions that the media and politicians are stoking 24/7.

• Be kinder to people I interact with. Everyone seems more stressed these days, so don’t add to it. Another word for this is being gracious, isn’t it?

• Stop nurturing petty grievances and move on, whether or not someone has apologized.

• Be kinder to myself and try to age more gracefully. Understand my limitations and stop fighting them.

• Be less self-reliant and give others the opportunity to help me.

• Be alert for the grace inherent in all of creation and give thanks for it.

• Give my art and craft to the world as a reflection of God’s grace.

• Pause daily to give thanks for all graces received.

• Grow the grace of being contended with what I have, without coveting more material possessions.

Given my personality is a bit curmudgeonly, this is a tall order for me. But I am willing to try and I will capture my progress in my journaling. I celebrated the new year by cracking open a new journal and wrote a lot of these thoughts down before I wrote this post, along with a prayer begging for specific grace to grow in this direction.

Thanks for reading. Is grace a meaningful word for you? Or does my list of how I will try to live more a more grace-filled year work better for you wrapped up in some other word? Do you feel a need for more grace in your life? Do you think it can make a difference in a world so fractured? Let me know in the comments.