Grace

Everyone has a set of standards they live by. A set of what is right or wrong, appropriate and not appropriate. Conflicts happen when one person says something or does something that goes against the standard of another, non-Christians to other non-Christians, Christians to non-Christians, non-Christians to Christians, as well as Christians to other Christians.

When things happen, it's hard to remember to let it go and extend grace. We think that it our right to feel a certain way or react a certain way because they "wronged" us. That our thoughts, feelings, and actions are justified. We hold on to the self righteous attitude so tightly. I think sometimes we feel that if we let things go, we are telling the other person that it is OK to continue to do or say whatever they're doing or saying. That's not the case at all. It'll eat you from the inside if you harbor those icky feelings.

Have you ever noticed that one situation sometimes ruins your whole day? You keep thinking about it and also getting upset and bitter about whatever happened. At the end of your day, you reflect back and realized that your whole day was spend being upset. A day wasted. Letting it go (showing grace) would have allowed you to move on emotionally and have more joy in your day. There are certain issues and problems that can never be resolved between people. We ourselves have to come into grips with the fact people have different life experiences that make them the way they are. And sometimes life happens and people have bad days. I know I do sometimes.

It is not the end of the world if a car pulls in front of us, if the waitress serves us the wrong food, if people make comments about you that was not true, if people make rude comments about anything. Life goes on. Don't waste your time thinking about it. Don't miss life because of other people's attitudes and actions. Don't sweat the small stuff. Life is an adventure with God. We have to decide what we fill it with.

As much as God has shown grace to us, we don't want to do the same with others around us. God calls us to live differently. This living doesn't come overnight. It takes time to change how one thinks about life.

Phil 4:8
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.