In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.

Ephesians 1:7-8

Usually posts on this blog provide tactical tips; It’s about how to apply the Bible in concrete and tangible actions in a nonprofit. Warning: This post won’t reach those standards, with good reason.

One of my practices is to write an email in which I highlight the unseen things direct reports do after we close a fiscal year. I first ran into this concept in John Maxwell’s 15 Laws of Invaluable Growth. Mentioning not what the person did in the course of their daily work, but rather the above and beyond achievements can quickly bond a team. I like underscoring who they are as a person, too, and how those characteristics shows up at work. It’s a way to express grace and appreciation that just happens to appear in the work they do.

In Ephesians, grace is a major theme. It’s not what is done that counts, but the redemption of Jesus that covers the mistakes or lack of love that we may present in our daily lives. It’s the Father looking at you and seeing Jesus. And, if that’s the case, it doesn’t matter what we do (or don’t do). It’s redemption, forgiveness, and grace that counts.

So, while a quick tip may be what you are looking for, perhaps it’s time for a moment to remember that all the tips in the world will not outweigh the grace of God. Perhaps this is the week that, instead of pushing a task forward, you hear a call to pause. Perhaps stopping in itself is the next best step toward a graceful posture. And, if that doesn’t work, write up an email to the team sharing the things you noticed that may not have been called out, and see where that takes you.

After all, it’s all about grace.

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© 2022, Mollie Bond. All rights reserved. Originally published at www.molliebond.org.

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