Callings

What has God called you to be? It's usually multifaceted. For example, I am called at different times to be a father, a care giver for my mom, a grandpa, a teacher, a friend, a mentor, a son, a brother, a Bible study leader--and the list goes on. You, I'm sure, have your own list. The important--vital--thing to remember is that each of these callings is a ministry of grace. It is only by God's good grace lavished on me that I have the joy and struggles of each of these ministries. I have each ministry because God chose to give it to me.
Tell me then. What attribute should dominate my actions in each of these ministries? That's an easy one, isn't it? Grace. If I am not a grace giver, my ministries will be suspect. If I am not a grace giver, I contradict the very essence of ministry. If I think the ministry is for my benefit, I frustrate grace. If I think any positive results in my ministries are because of my abilities, I abuse God's grace. If I am frustrated because I don't see the results I want in my ministries, I mock God's grace. I must praise Him for the wonderful ministries He has chosen to give me. I must then demonstrate that same grace in those ministries if I am going to glorify Him as He has called me to do. When those to whom God has called me to minister, in whatever capacity, think of me, does the idea of graciousness cross their mind? If not, it is because I think that they are my ministries and not His. What could be more of an abuse of His grace than that?