Photo by Tetiana SHYSHKINA on Unsplash
Today I am participating in Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "mercy."
Mercy seems to be a childhood/childlike quality. When we are children, and our friend hurts our feelings, usually all if forgiven by the end of the day. If not then, then shortly.
I looked up the definition for mercy in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary and biblehub.com, and both have compassion as the definition.
So mercy equals compassion. Compassion relates to forgiveness. They are all swirling around each other, and are all part of our emotions.
We can say forgiveness is a choice. All. Day. Long. But your emotions are involved.
This morning I was talking to my husband about a situation in my own life. I could rationally think about the situation all day long. But when he said something that caused my emotions to relax, I felt loved again.
That’s what mercy will do for you.
In the story of the woman caught in adultery in John chapter 8, we see mercy at play with Jesus and the woman.
The men accusing her wanted the full extent of the law given to her. That was their goal. No compassion. No mercy. So, she stood there feeling ashamed.
But then the Lord steps in, and he extends forgiveness, compassion, mercy to this woman, because that’s who he is. And then all is right in her world. She relaxes, and then...she puts her faith in him. We know this because she calls him Lord.
Mercy is a wonderful thing. It brings things back into the right. It makes things new. It restores hearts and emotions and gives us a sense of peace.
Mercy.
"No compassion. No mercy." You made me think of The Karate Kid. The Cobra Kai's model was "no mercy." That didn't work out well for them, and it doesn't work out well for us. Lacking mercy makes enemies instead of friends.
ReplyDeleteAmie, FMF #11
You so remind me of me! I quote random movie quotes too! Thank you for stoppping by and sharing!
DeletePure mercy. Love that story. #9
ReplyDeleteI love that story too Susan. It is one of my favorites.
DeleteMercy is compassion,
ReplyDeleteand mercy's a hard master
that can give us a lashin',
but without it, life's disaster.
Mercy can be hard to give
("Just LOOK what that bloke did!"),
but if we really want to live
with God, we must be full rid
of hate-chains we have tied around
our skinny chicken-necks,
anchored to the barnyard ground,
belaboured by the pecks
of other fowl with gimlet eye
who have never learned to fly.
Thank you Andrew for stopping by. I always love to read your poetry.
DeleteAll individual all linked. Mercy, forgiveness, grace, peace and love. It's is really an emotional rollercoaster in getting a balance and getting it right 😊 fmf #2
ReplyDeleteThey are linked! Good point! I am so thankful for Jesus. He made it all right for us!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteYes, great reminder from Scripture of Jesus forgiving the adulteress woman. He has such mercy on her and on me. Love the line "But then the Lord steps in." That always changes everything, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteOh my, yes! That does always change everything! Thanks for stopping by Mariel!
DeleteBeautiful post and reminder from Scripture.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from #26
Thank you! Blessings to you!
Delete