Defining Grace at Shelburne Farms. Photo courtesy of The Flying Pig Bookshop.
In this season of intentional gratitude, I note that many of us “say grace” before dinner. I am not surprised that “gratitude” and “grace” share a common root word in Latin, “gratia.”
Growing up, my family said grace in the Quaker tradition, holding hands around the table. No matter what was going on in our lives, Grace made sure we were connected. Our family blessing ended with, “Bless us, help us to be good, Amen.” May we invite Grace to sit at our tables in gratitude for abundance in our lives, even if it feels fleeting, and ask for Her guidance.
We need some guiding Grace. You may be excited about the blue wave midterm election results. Remember, it was a midterm. Newly elected candidates don’t take office until January. We have hard, healing work ahead of us as we build a better future for all.
When I sign copies of Defining Grace: Showing Up with the Gift of Divine Mischief, I often include “With Gratitude and Grace” over my signature. I am grateful for the Grace that connects me with my readers.
A friend recently told me that the Grace Tracks reflection prompts that accompany each chapter are her favorite parts of Defining Grace. She finds them useful in naming the times and ways Grace shows up in her life. She is a highly accomplished woman. Her comment reminded me that Grace is not about resumes. Grace can show up for whatever life brings us.
A friend who attended “Defining Grace at Shelburne Farms” told me that she used the structure of my poem, “To Dad from a Bear called Paddington,” to write a poem to her mom on the fifth anniversary of her death.
I have a graceful podiatrist. She is honest in telling me that the best I can hope for is that my feet have not gotten worse. Then she gives me a hug. That’s Grace, her offering and my acceptance.
I have a young friend who lives in a country at war. An interfaith group from around the country has been praying for her safety for years. Now there is a chance that she and her mother will be able to emigrate to Cananda. Prayers are invocations to Grace.
Connecting interesting people doing good work is one of my favorite ways to show up with Grace. It’s my gift of Divine Mischief. I love the way Frederick Buechner defined Grace as the point where our gifts meet the needs of the world. When I approach people with loving curiosity, I look for people’s gifts. None of us can accomplish great things alone. We need each other to love each other into new, positive possibilities, especially in times of turmoil and uncertainty. Imagine Grace in government.
Grace also has a sense of humor. I carefully crafted Defining Grace using a timeline for my complicated life. I laughed out loud when a friend told me the other day, “I’m only up to Spencer.” It makes perfect dogsense.
Save the Date: January 8th, 2027
Gary De Carolis, host of Celebrate Life on CCTV, Channel 17, will be interviewing me on January 8th at 11:00 a.m. Tune in to hear about my personal journey and the five words that capture my life story.
For more details about this event and to listen to recordings of past interviews, please visit my Events page.