Grow (verb):
(of a living thing) undergo natural development by increasing in size and changing physically; progress to maturity.
become larger or greater over a period of time; increase.
Grace (noun):
simple elegance or refinement of movement
courteous goodwill
(verb) do honor or credit to (someone or something) by one’s presence
When I was considering the name for this blog, I connected with these two words. The phrase “grow with grace” rings so true to me in this time. Conveniently, Grace is my middle name but also has so much spiritual meaning behind it.
Truth be told, I find it ironic because I am certainly more clumsy than I am graceful. In all the glorious years of performing, I have fallen off a stage or down a flight of stairs more times than I am proud of. Although the physical embodiment of the word is laughable to me, I find so much comfort in it.
Growth shows up in our lives when we are struggling the most. Believe me, it is uncomfortable and painful. They call them growing pains for a reason. In a way, you are leveling up and maturing. During this time, you can be really hard on yourself. When you think about your teenage years, when you’re going through puberty, it is NOT CUTE. The pimples show up, the voice changes, the body hair, and don’t even get me started on the time of the month for ladies. You are looking in the mirror and not feeling your best or most confident. Once this awkward stage passes, you realize you’re much different than you were before. You realize that those couple of years of growth brought you to who you are today.
We also experience growth when we are facing our fears or challenges. When we choose to run from our fears, we are avoiding growth. When we have the courage to choose to run straight into our fears, we know that growth is the prize on the other side.
My senior quote in high school happened to be:
“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game"
Quote by Babe Ruth
(Yes, I may have first heard it from the 2000s classic, A Cinderella Story)
Life is a game -- a complicated, messy, yet rewarding game. There have been many situations where I’ve let my fears get the best of me, but I always muster up the courage to not let them stop me. I’ve discovered there are many things that are essential for growth and I’m going to turn it into an acrostic poem…
G - gaining self-awareness
R - reach for your full potential
O - overcome your obstacles and fears
W - welcome learning opportunities
T - try your best
H - have faith in yourself
Growth can feel intimidating, so this is where Grace steps in. Grace is often associated with The Bible and Christian beliefs. Grace is God's riches at Christ's expense. Grace is undeserved favor. Grace is a gift. No matter where you stand on your own religious beliefs, the word teaches us so much about forgiveness.
Last year, I found myself at one of my lowest points, basically rock bottom, when I reached for Grace. I never truly had a strong relationship with God or a desire to build my faith in any capacity before. I mean, I occasionally went to church with my family on the holidays but nothing beyond that. When I made the decision to commit to strengthening my beliefs, I felt like I had completely surrendered. I wanted so badly to control every aspect of my life and always have my hands on the steering wheel. So, I guess you could say it was a "Jesus Take the Wheel" moment for me. I was ready to grow and understand my place in this world as a human and as a creation of God.
When I feel worried about the future, doubt myself, and question why things fall apart -- I trust in Grace. Even though, I don't feel like I'm where I want to be, I know that everything will work out. Have faith that through the good and the bad, the universe has got your back. Forgiving others and forgiving yourself is a practice.
We Grow in Grace when we cultivate our ability to forgive others -- not in word only but through our daily interactions with those who have hurt us. The best we can do is extend kindness and compassion to everyone around us.
Let's take a moment to ask ourselves these questions:
How am I serving others right now? Can I become more involved?
How am I growing in grace?
You were not designed to stay in one place forever. The experiences, relationships, and places you visit are all all meant to shape you. Step out of your comfort zone and lean into what Growth and Grace has to offer.
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