The Best Gift Ever

Not long ago I was driving through a parking garage I had not been in before. My tension was growing as it appeared that all of the spaces were marked “Reserved.”

As I rounded one of the corners, I was trying to read the signs above the parking spaces when all of the sudden I looked up and saw another car. In my distraction, I took the turn and was driving on the wrong side of a two way lane. I quickly moved out of his way and nervously offered an apologetic wave as he passed. I expected to see an angry gesture in return; after all I was in the wrong. Instead, he offered a kind wave and mouthed, “It’s okay.”

As I was leaving that very same garage a few hours later, low and behold the same thing happened! Except this time I was the one who was driving innocently along when the other car came around the bend and right into my path. My normal response would be to channel all my fear of an accident into anger at the other driver. There would typically be some finger pointing and maybe even some yelling.

But this time was different. I was still basking in the glow of the grace I had received earlier and had more than enough of it to share. So, as he passed, I waved and said, “It’s okay.”

Last week I shared my desire to improve my ability to say “I was wrong.” I’ve discovered one of the most beautiful results of these efforts. The better I get at admitting my own mistakes, the easier it is to extend grace to others for theirs. The best gift we can give to others is the gift of grace. May you always give and receive it aplenty!

Have you recently basked in the glow of grace received? Or, maybe you’ve savored the equally enjoyable act of extending grace to someone else? I’d love to hear about it!