Graceful

*Taking the five minute challenge today*

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Graceful. "Showing grace or elegance" is what the dictionary says. Today as I think about that word, I see my favorite childhood story book character- Nancy Drew. She could discover clues, climb under crawl spaces, and catch a criminal all while keeping her auburn hair perfect and her clothes wrinkle free. Occasionally, Nancy had to "powder her nose" or throw on a little lipstick after her adventure, but other than that, she was the epitome of grace.

Maybe that's why I always wanted to be her. I was the opposite, still am, really. There is rarely a moment when my hair is perfect, I can trip over air, I hate to iron so I tolerate wrinkles, and, well, I've never captured a criminal, but when I have had to capture my beagle after he escapes out the front door I need more than a little lipstick to be presentable at the end of my adventure.

As I've matured I've learned being graceful is so much more than outward elegance. It is a way of life. As a Christ follower it is the kingdom life- sacrificing our thoughts, needs, desires, schedules for others. It is to be "full of grace"  because we now carry the identity of our Savior. I fill up on His grace as I live in relationship with him and it will, on those days when I'm living in obedience, flow out to all I come in contact with.

While I have no doubt the word "graceful" in the Nancy Drew sense will never be the first thing that comes to the mind of those that really know me, I will continue striving to wear the title "grace-full" as I reflect the perfect grace of Jesus.

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