TIME SPACE AND GRACE
In dealing with people, what I seek are
these three things: time, space and grace.
Time. I want people to give me their time. To listen to me and listen to
what I am saying. To understand my intention though my words are often
inadequate expressions of that intention.
Space: I want people to give me space. A space that allows me to come alongside,
rather than demanding complicity with their schedule. I want them to give me a
space to understand their intention and allow me to choose to join hands with theirs
in accordance with my grasp of circumstances and situations.
Grace: I want people to extend grace to me for my shortcomings and
failures. To allow me to learn and improve. Grace that permits silences, and does not
demand a retort. Grace to allow me to assimilate and learn, even when I am slow
to respond. Grace that does not visit recrimination or sarcasm but allows me to
breathe air of freedom, even if I need to breathe it for a little longer than
others.
And in so needing all these things, dear
Lord, help me to extend these same
things to those around me. To do unto them, what I would have done for me.
Help me Lord, want to extend these three things
to others more than I desire them for myself. I am far from it Lord, and vast tracts of land in my heart are unplowed
and barren. Till that land, and let it bear fruit, though the process is
painful and the yield is as yet unobserved.
