She spent years learning
How to move
Elegantly, effortlessly
Watching her own reflection
Buffing away roughness
Until she could glide
Across the mirror's surface
Like a water bird
On a still pond.

But she only embodied
The true meaning of grace
When she learned
To turn to others
Who had tripped
And clumsily fallen,
And warmly greet them
With outstretched hands -
Meeting her own eyes
In the mirror.

Note: Today was one of those days where I felt all over the place – scattered, frantic and a bit overwhelmed. There were a couple of places where I felt I had come up against the hard edges of life, where I was hoping to be met with leniency or a bit of extra care. May we all be offered grace when we need it – and learn to offer it to ourselves.

Photo by Ray Hennessy on Unsplash