An Abundant Life Living In Grace

An Abundant Life Living in Grace

 

As I sat listening to the pastor talk about Katie’s life this week at her funeral, he kept saying “Katie lived an abundant life in grace”.

 

My friends, Connie, and Dan lost their only daughter, Katie a week ago.

 

Katie was only 34 years old. I will not go into the story about how she died, only it was within about 2 ½ months since her diagnosis.

 

What struck me as I listened to the pastor, Katie’s oldest brother and her best friend, share stories about her, Katie lived an abundant life in grace.

 

Katie consciously made connections with everyone, no matter where she was. Her joy and love of life was like a light that shined on everyone in her presence.

 

Because the pastor was relaying his story about living an abundant life and equating it with how Jesus lived, he tied it to how Katie chose to live.

 

Consequently, what he was saying profoundly touched me. I knew I needed to share with you about an abundant life living in grace.

 

First you must look at what abundant means in relation to this.

 

“Abundance is, in large part, an attitude.”
Sue Patton Thoele

 

“Abundance is the fruit of your own positive energy”.

Christine Astell

 

Due to what these quotes say, it is about you choosing to live in happiness and joy more of the time than not.

 

I found a website that gives 9 tips to living an abundant life I’ll share at the bottom of this article.

As I read through this list, Katie had lived each one.

 

Choosing to listen and ask questions about another and what was happening in their world, is a quality she had.

Other qualities are, smiling, building quality friendships, creating things to celebrate, and enjoying your life.

The stories shared about Katie, talked about how she lived these qualities since she was a young girl.

Her mom, Connie, has all these qualities too.

Connie was one of my first friends I made when I moved from Indiana to Minnesota, over 28 years ago.

 

When I asked Connie if I could write about Katie in my article, her answer was, “Absolutely my dear friend! The world needs lots of care. We need to find all the good we can from her passing.”

 

She is right.

Because I have been sharing my thoughts, each week now for almost 9 years, I know I am living a more abundant life in grace, as well.

 

Which brings us to grace. Did you read my article about grace I have shared a couple of times?

 

Here is the link to read it again if you wish:

https://conniehertz.com/the-importance-of-grace-in-our-life/

Here is a bit of my article on Grace:

 

“Grace is “unconditional love.” It is the exercise of love and kindness to benefit or serve another.

For instance, it is a disposition of kindness and compassion.

 

 “Grace reflects a decision on the part of the giver, the one who loves, in relation to the receiver, the one who is loved, that negates any qualifications the receiver may personally hold…. it is one-way love.”

“Grace is being loved when you are unlovable.”

Grace is the spiritual freedom that arises when you realize that life is a gift. From this awareness you seek to live in harmony with the power that created us, God.  From this relationship, arises a profound feeling of happiness as well as spiritual, emotional, and mental freedom.

 

 

Hence, putting these two together; an abundant life living in grace, would be a life filled with conscious joy, kindness toward others, loving unconditionally, as you live in spiritual, emotional, and mental freedom.

 

As the pastor said, Katie was not perfect, only she made decisions most of the time to live an abundant life in grace.

 

As her mom, Connie said, “we need to find all the good we can from her passing. We don’t know why she left so young.”

As a result of the way she chose to live, so many lives were touched by her.

 

Finally, my love and prayers for comfort go out to Connie, Dan, Katie’s husband Chris, her three brothers that loved and adored her, her entire family, and many friends.

 

I hope this article will help you to slow down and choose to live an abundant life in grace.

 

What will you do to live more in the example of Katie?

 

With my love and blessings,

Connie

 

9 Tips to Live an Abundant Life:

https://bit.ly/3lRbhB6

 

Below is a photo of Katie and Connie.  RIP dear one.