There are two basic types of gracious people in the world. Those that are gracious from a kind heart and those that are gracious on the surface only.
A gracious person will see everyone as equal and treat all with kindness and respect.
I think for the most part, people put themselves and others in boxes. We should all remember, each person has giftings. Ours may not mesh with theirs and that’s ok! We’re not meant to mesh with everyone. But we should always be gracious.
Gracious means being kind and speaking thoughtful words. Graciousness is often superficial, but sometimes what is on the surface is good enough. Being gracious is being tactful, not hurtful. Being gracious means paying attention to those at a party that often feel left out. Being gracious is making eye contact with everyone in the group, not just one. Being gracious is calling a homeless person at a shelter, a guest.
Being gracious means being compassionate. It means being courteous.
A gracious person is slow to take credit and quick to lavish praise. Graciousness shows a propensity to be generous and helpful. The mark of a gracious person is how they treat someone who can be of absolutely no use to them. A gracious person asks for forgiveness if they offend another. A gracious person asks for forgiveness even when they know it wasn’t their fault.
Gracious people give; they give of themselves, their time, their smiles, approval, friendship, money, gifts, with no strings attached. They are never greedy, stingy or grabbing. You don’t have to feel like you are walking on eggshells in exchange for their favor. Gracious people think about others, what they can give, how they can help – and they do it. They listen to another speaking, not forming what they want to say in their minds.
A gracious person has warmth. They may argue, but are not out of control and they are never cold to others. The opposite of love is not hate…it is cool indifference. Gracious people never exhibit cool indifference to others.
We should treat everyone the same. Be kind, be thoughtful. Gracious words from a kind heart bring health to the body of the person speaking them.