It’s humbling to realize we absolutely cannot get to heaven without the grace of God. In our human frailty and brokenness, God graces us with healing, strength, tremendous love and unending mercy, which is exactly what we need for eternal life. It’s true, we don’t deserve and can’t earn his grace, yet he pours it out abundantly upon us every day because he loves us and wants us to be with him in heaven. St. Augustine said, “For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.” Here are a few ways we can request and notice God’s grace in our everyday lives and teach our children to do the same. 
 

• Grace we can see

The seven sacraments are visible signs of God’s grace because we can see, feel, touch, taste and hear them. They are represented by signs and symbols we can identify and pray with. Sacramentals such as rosaries, statues, bibles and crucifixes can give our families tangible focus points for prayer. These items physically link us to the gifts and teaching of Jesus, so we need to help our children appreciate and cling to the grace they bring.

• A simple plea

Grace is given to help us be holy in the moment. Sometimes we know we need a specific grace such as patience, strength or stillness to be holy. At other times, we might have no idea which specific grace we need. God does, and all we need to do to receive an outpouring of the perfect grace is simply ask. Teach your children to stop and pray: “Lord please give me the grace I need to be holy right now!” He’s always attentive to that simple plea and he will always offer the grace we need. Our job is to cooperate with it.

• Little ‘s’ sacraments

God’s grace comes to us not only in Church celebrations but in the stuff of regular days. Our task is to help our children have a “sacramental imagination” about daily life. When we pray and share a meal together, we are reminded of the Last Supper and the spiritual connections we make by breaking bread together. Learning to offer forgiveness and show mercy brings Christ’s reconciling love into our family relationships. Washing, tending, treating and offering compassion in sickness and injury makes Christ’s healing touch present amid life’s hurts. Be sure to articulate aloud how everyday moments give us glimpses of God’s grace always present.

• Cultivate awareness

God shares his mighty grace continuously, and we need to help our children see him working, helping, reminding and inviting. Show them how God is in the everyday if we’re looking. He’s in the stranger who distracts a wiggly toddler at Mass, he’s in the person who says hello and welcome, he’s in the child who shares his snack or invites someone to play. Make it a point in your family to request and notice his grace each day.