Five Minute Friday: Graceful

Today’s word made me think of this picture from my daughter’s dance recital this year.

  Strong.  Confident.  Poised.  Beautiful.  Graceful.

                                             …and then there is what I did about 10 days ago.

I have been taking a self-defense class for the past two years.  Normally I am fairly well-spoken and choose my words carefully.  That day in class, I was so focused on the new skill I was trying to learn that I blurted out a question to my instructor, but the words came out sounding more like a demand than a question.  He gave me a quizzical look, and then answered my question.

As soon as the words were out there, I wanted to scoop them back into my mouth and have a “do over.”  It bothered me the rest of the class.  I kept thinking, “Maybe it didn’t sound as demanding as I thought it did.  Maybe he didn’t notice.”  But by the time I left the building and got to my car, it was still bothering me and I felt the need to apologize for being disrespectful.  On my way back into the building, I tripped over the curb.  It wasn’t just a stumble and lurch, it was a full blown face plant in the grass.  It happened so quickly, that I never even had a chance to catch myself.  I rolled with the fall and my purse flipped upside down and the contents went flying.  I was covered in grass, had grass stains on my knees, had a 2x2 inch scrape on my ankle that was bleeding profusely, and blood stains on my uniform.  As I was putting the last of the loose change, mints, and pens back in my purse, my instructor came out and asked if I was okay.  I assured him that I was.  I apologized to him for my words in class, and he graciously said that no apology was needed.  It wasn’t one of my most graceful moments.

This incident reminded me that my Father in heaven is “grace-full.”

When the words come out wrong…
He is full of grace

When we fall flat on our face…
He is full of grace

When we admit we are wrong and seek forgiveness…
He is full of grace

Thankful.

[Note:  I did exceed the time limit on this a little bit, but I wanted to finish my train of thought!]