Grace

     Grace is the love and mercy we receive and give, a gift not necessarily earned or deserved.  Grace usually brings delight, joy, and happiness or at least, improves the life of another.  Those that show grace are kind, generous, virtuous, and forgiving.
     Some believe that grace comes from God.  Humans cannot earn or deserve this gift.   Whether we believe in a spiritual source or not, we can show human grace to others.  Difficulty comes when we expect others to earn our generosity or deserve our kindness and forgiveness.  Sometimes the grace we show others isn't noticed or appreciated; it may be taken for granted.  In some relationships, one person seems to do more of the giving.  Sometimes this is unavoidable when the other person is incapacitated or just insensitive.   Sometimes, we need to help them understand our perspective so they aren't so oblivious.
     To make things easier, we need to remember that virtue can be its own reward.  When we know we are doing the right thing, we should feel a sense of accomplishment.  We should also show grace toward ourselves to be sure our needs are met.  We should not feel guilty when we grow tired and feel life is unfair.  Show love and mercy to yourself and to others.