Have you ever had one of “those days?” Yes. THOSE DAYS.

It’s not so much that all the things that happen are so bad on their own, but when you add them all up… it equates to a pretty rough day. Or in some cases, days. In other cases, weeks or months or even years.

I recently had one of those days. Plural. Stomach bug for one kid, strep for the next. Waiting at urgent care over an hour longer than we should have. All of the pharmacies near me are out of the antibiotic we need. And then… this.

This is like the equivalent of stubbing your toe after a bad day except worse BECAUSE YOU PAID FOR IT. Oh, man. I did a lot of whining on this day. My husband and closest friend got a very pathetic version of me.

After I settled myself down, I started running over the day in my mind and was reminded of a pretty popular phrase. You know it? It says, “Be kind. For everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”

Said another way: Grace.

I began thinking about my experience in Urgent Care and just how kind each employee was to me. They were dealing with emergencies back to back. Their work day was stressful and full. I cared that they had a harder day than normal. They cared that I waited so long with my sick little kid. The truth is we were all tired for one reason or another. But I chose to be kind and so did they. And it changed everything. Truthfully.

Grace.

We need it so ridiculously much. It’s actually amazing to me what kindness and grace can do. I felt myself pushing against it in the waiting room. We shouldn’t have waited this long. We were here first. We only saw the doctor for five minutes. I am just done with sickness.

A few deep breaths and a reliance on the Holy Spirit reminded me that these people are people, and their day was hard, too.

Y’all. Everyone is doing their best, even if it doesn’t necessarily look like it to you.

This is what Jesus meant when He told us to love one another. He was telling us to give the benefit of the doubt. To be kind even when they aren’t. To take a pause. This kind of response isn’t reserved for within church walls.

No, the grace pouring out from our Father in and through us needs to spill on those we bump into at the grocery store, when we’re stuck in traffic, when we wait in doctor’s offices.

When that other kid bullies our kid.

When our co-workers are rude and disrespectful.

This doesn’t make us doormats; it makes us disciples.

Grace gives us permission to let Jesus defend our name.

Grace gives us spiritual eyes to see what may be behind a behavior that hurt our feelings.

Grace holds our tongue where it may hurt, and gives us boldness where it can heal.

It’s undeserved and unmerited. That’s kind of the point.

And this grace Jesus is asking us to give others? It’s not all for nothing, but is surely lacking fullness if we don’t accept it for ourselves. This kindness we extend to those who are struggling around us?

Hey, that’s us, too. The only difference is that we get an actual clear window into the behind the scenes of our own life. I know when my fuse is short and I know why. I know the backstory of my own impatience.

So does God.

God knows what our best looks like. He knows what our worst looks like, too. And He doesn’t even measure us by it. In fact, there’s no measuring at all.

If God holds up a standard, it’s a measuring stick with no end that has already been purchased by His son. When God looks at you, He sees you through a filter. The blood of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has permanently washed away every stain. As God sees His perfect Son, He sees you. There is no way to measure up and nothing to prove. This is how He’s created us to live.

It’s free. Did you know? It’s already bought and paid for. Whether you accept it or not doesn’t change the fact that it is eternally yours to take.

This isn’t about being easier on yourself or letting yourself off the hook. This is letting God be God and accepting what’s already yours.

So let’s just take it. Let’s accept the grace He’s offering us, okay? And let’s give it away.

“Remember this: sin will not conquer you, for God already has!
You are not governed by the law, but governed by the reign of the grace of God.”
Romans 6:14 TPT