--- title: An Opportunity to Extend Grace description: Deanna Bartalini learns why she needed to write and think about grace. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20210421%20DBartalini%202.jpg --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/an-opportunity-to-extend-grace#) [SUNDAY BRUNCH](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/sunday-brunch) # An Opportunity to Extend Grace Apr 21, 2021 11:30:00 AM  |  by [Deanna Bartalini](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/deanna-bartalini) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20210421%20DBartalini%202.jpg) *Deanna Bartalini learns why she needed to write and think about grace.* Back in February, I wrote [3 Ways to Extend Grace](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/3-ways-to-extend-grace). I’ll give you a quick synopsis: listen to people’s story, think the best of each person you meet and pray for others. After I sent the article, I was given an opportunity to extend grace in a very real way. My mother called with an emergency involving my father. She told me he had a stroke. (FYI, he did not, he had fainted.) During that time and continuing up to now, my father has been in and out of the hospital, with no final diagnosis or relief of his pain and sleeplessness. In the moment, it seemed plausible that he had a stroke, though once I saw her and she told me what had happened and what the paramedics said, it did not. But you can picture the scene: I hurriedly put on sneakers, grab my purse, keys, phone, don’t forget the face mask, and go. I get to the light at the end of our main road out, the light is red, so I stop, looking for a chance to make a right on red (legal here in Florida). I’m praying and watching traffic ... and then I feel a big bump and am jolted forward. I stop praying and revert to other types of words and look at who hit me. I am furious, almost in tears, waving my arms, not very happy. I get out of my car and look at the bumper, the man (maybe 30 years old) is apologizing, and I am not pleased. I start to speak and then stop as the voice in my head says, okay maybe screams, “GRACE! EXTEND GRACE!” Deep breath. I see a rosary hanging from his rear-view mirror. I’m still upset but I manage to tell him why and he says he’ll pray for my dad. I take his name and number, but I never called him. There was no need. The car was fine; I was fine. ![dashboard view of car with Rosary handing from mirror](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20210421%20DBartalini.jpg?width=1626&name=20210421%20DBartalini.jpg) > [Click to tweet: > Opportunities abound to extend grace. Do we use them? #catholicmom](https://ctt.ac/0M6c6) That day I realized and was reminded about a few things. The words I write are for me as much as they are for you. If I don’t do what I suggest to others, then the words are just words, empty of meaning or purpose. St. Paul might call me a clanging gong. We can choose our response. Words have power. Grace is real. God cares. God sees us and protects us. Extend grace, it helps you and the other person. Opportunities abound to extend grace. Do we use them? --- Copyright 2021 Deanna Bartalini Image: Darla Dela Rosa (2020), [Unsplash](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://unsplash.com/photos/0VSS32rSLvo&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw2452EsVZMWschA63LSJfB7) ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fan-opportunity-to-extend-grace%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fan-opportunity-to-extend-grace%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fan-opportunity-to-extend-grace%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=An%20Opportunity%20to%20Extend%20Grace) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fan-opportunity-to-extend-grace%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fan-opportunity-to-extend-grace%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Deanna Bartalini](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Deanna%20Bartalini%202025-1.png) ### [Deanna Bartalini](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/deanna-bartalini) Deanna G. Bartalini, M.Ed., M.P.A. is a certified spiritual director, retreat leader, speaker, and writer with decades of experience serving the Church. She is the founder of [LiveNotLukewarm.com](https://LiveNotLukewarm.com), works on the retreat team at Our Lady of Florida Passionist Spiritual Center, and is an Unbound prayer minister. Deanna writes from her experiences of over 40 years of marriage, children and grandchildren. ## Related Blog Articles [ Grounded in God's Grace Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2020/04/15/grounded-in-gods-grace/) [ Understanding and Appreciating God's Unconditional Love Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/02/10/understanding-and-appreciating-gods-unconditional-love) [ Abandon Yourself Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/01/16/abandon-yourself/) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.