Grace

What is really lacking in ours and in the next generation is grace. This can smooth over the rough areas of our lives in so many areas. I recall my dad telling me about brawls he had as a kid and how the losers might shake hands and admit defeat gracefully. He said that he had a fight with a minority group that had recently moved in the area of his school. The particular guy pulled a knife on him instead of admitting defeat. He knew that his world was unraveling at that point. Most of the people from his generation moved out; all because of a lack of grace in the culture that was taking over. 

We try to level the ground and keep our kids from experiencing disappointment. What they really need is to learn how to take disappointment on the chin; How to admire someone’s achievement even if it is at their own expense. We become hard on ourselves too and it is a lack of grace that causes suicides. The only way to overcome failures and have new beginnings is by having grace toward ourselves.  A person who gets up from a fall unscathed is considered graceful. You don’t get the job you want then keep trying. A graceful person endures insults unscathed. From government to driving on the road; not taking offense and allowing the winner to try his hand without resentment can go a long way.
If you think about it the most difficult people we interact with are those who have no grace. Fault finders are hard to deal and live with. Because they don't have grace doesn't mean we abandon ours. Making objective decisions and choices without taking on their bitterness takes a lot of fortitude but it is worth it. 

We get so much more accomplished as individuals and a society when we don’t take things so personal.  Most of the time the offenses aren't as bad as we thought and for those that are; moving on and making changes can be exciting. We pick ourselves up and start over, without bitterness or turmoil. Let the guy have the lane, no one has crashed and you can still get to your destination.