Grace Moments

Grace is defined in various ways by Webster's Dictionary:  unmerited help given to people by God; a virtue from God; a short prayer at a meal - all were present last night.  

We say grace at dinner, whether it is all five of us or not. Our grace is the familiar:

Bless us, Oh Lord, 

and these thy gifts which

we are about to receive from thy bounty,

through Christ, Our Lord.

Amen.

On occasion, after grace we will add intentions - ok, I start adding intentions and the Dad backs me up and we all offer our own intentions.  This is usually not met with resounding joy - but we have had a lot of intentions lately and it helps us all remember our blessings and each other's needs.  

Yesterday had been a busy day for all of us, a day that started with missing homework, tests, papers due, projects that required one too many voicemails - that still remain unanswered. Eventually as the boys were all finally home and about to eat by themselves, I said grace with them - except I started with intentions, praying for grace to get through the last of the week - three heads and six wide eyes bobbed up and bowed right back down when I started right into our regular grace. The relief of three starving boys was comical.  

What followed was not the usual loud and raucous meal.  Much to my surprise, dinner last night was a bastion of peace and quiet. In fact it was so lovely it took my breath away as I looked up and saw what I know will be a scene that will far too quickly change. My camera was laying out and I wanted to save the moment.  Click.

And change it did - because as soon as they heard the click this happened:

 And then this: 

And there it was, the grace of brotherhood. A little fun with mom, but brothers united - a virtue from God. And a little unmerited help from God for this Mom that sometimes can be too busy to see the blessings.  

May your day be blessed with grace, and the ability to notice it when it arrives.