It has been a tough month. One filled with facing fears I have suppressed. One of seeing the wickedness of man and experiencing the most jarring instances of helplessness. One of watching my voice not matter and almost all stability shaken and not secure. One of some of the highest of highs and moments I will be the most proud of in my life and one of of the lowest of lows that will forever shape the woman that I am. And while I will not sit here and comment on the situations of this month or all of the struggles and fears I have, I do want to talk about the piece of this that has kept me in the fight.

Grace.

Undeserved grace.

Now it has taken me 25+ years to understand this, but the life advice to surround yourself with good people, honest people, not yes-men; is sound advice. But I will go one step further. Chose to surround yourself by people who will extend you grace.

We are all trying to figure out our place. We are all “works in progress” and trying to figure out this whole “adult” thing. But community matters in the fight to overcome that. Community is essential to humanity. It is essential to our progress and it is essential to our well being. But even more so, grace In your community is a requirement. We will fall short. We will fail. We will have to stare evil in the face and we may not react well. We will disappoint people. We will triumph and we will fall. But grace is the hand reaching down.

Grace in your community is a requirement.

Grace is the person who celebrates the victories, big and small. Grace is the person who speaks truth the loudest when you’re not willing to hear it or you’re fears are screaming in the other ear. Grace is the person who calls you in the midst of your brokenness, in the midst of staring evil in the face just to be there for your tears. Grace is the hug from the person who knows you are broken. Grace is the person who is patient when you choose not to listen to truth and instead listen to your emotions. Grace is the person who cares for your heart by telling you the absolute truth. Grace is the person who is also trying to figure out their life and priorities and chooses to speak into yours. Grace is willing to listen and not speak.

Without grace we cannot love ourselves well and we cannot love others well.

Be the grace someone else needs and accept the grace others extend to you. Find a a community bent on showing grace and keep fighting!