MERCY

Just a five-letter word that has been with us

for our lifetime. When we examine our record,

we find that we come up short in the mercy

department. We are secondhand witnesses to

brutal crimes and come out with our opinion

of what the consequences should be. The

perpetrator should be strung up and severely

punished. What they need more than punishment

is mercy, understanding, counseling, and meditation,

along with someone who can lead them through this

maze. None of us are above God’s desires, and

we all need mercy. We are not better than the

criminals and God shares his love equally. If we

are to imitate Him, then we must be willing to

forgive and show mercy to everyone, as we are

all sinners. We are in awe when hearing of some

of the horrendous crimes committed, and we

sit in judgment instead of forgiving, showing

mercy and realizing that God has a purpose for

us all. It is difficult to understand, but we should

make every effort we can to follow God’s example.

He loves us and wants us to do the things that

make up a good life. He gave us free will and

exposes us to enough people to make it easy

to know right and wrong. What causes the

wrongdoing? We don’t always know, but

we do know his words,” When I was hungry

and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you

gave me drink, a stranger, and you welcomed

me, naked, and you clothed me, ill and you

cared for me in prison, and you visited me.

We must learn and do these things.

They are our show of mercy, our show of love.

Stanski

March 17, 2023, ^