Inspiration Thursday! Grace.

Grace. What a powerful word. A word full of meanings and derivatives. A word to describe a state of being. A word that can save a life. Grace.

Websters gives grace 8 separate definitions. It then goes on for half a column defining words derived from grace. You might have a grace period for a deadline. You might drink from a grace cup at the end of a meal or find a grace note in your musical score. You may have studied the "Graces" in Greek mythology. A governor may show grace by giving a pardon. A king may show grace by bestowing special favor on a courtier.

You might describe a person as gracious in opening their home or welcoming you in a social situations. Ballerinas dance with grace, while swans are graceful. If you're particularly clumsy, you might be called graceless.

Today, many of us will sit around a table with family or friends and say "grace" to show our thanks for the food we've been blessed to put on our tables. For Christians, it's the heart of our faith - the grace of God's love for us - the grace of His giving us salvation. As many of us celebrate a national day of Thanksgiving, I'm thinking about grace. And I'm thankful for the grace that's been shown to me.