Mercy

I am thinking I very appropriately titled my blog.  My life is bringing about plenty of content for it!  A couple of weeks ago (like literally 2 weeks ago), I dropped my phone and shattered the screen.  It didn't have a case on it, and I took responsibility for it.  I even let my husband say "I told you so" without putting up a fight.  To my dismay, the most sensible option was to pay more than the cost of the phone to have the screen replaced.  So the problem was fixed, and I got over it.  Come yesterday morning.  The little one had a fever, and we had plans for later in the day.  So I rushed to get a shower, and raced to get to the doctor's office before they opened.  As all moms know, that's what you must do in order to not spend your entire weekend there.  So as I was jumping out of the car with my wet hair and make-up free face, my newly replaced phone slipped right out of my hand onto the asphalt.  Shattered.  Worse than the first time.  This was reminiscent of the time I backed my car into 3 different things in one month, but I digress.  I fought tears back and got settled into the waiting room and was filled with that feeling you get when you know you've messed up really bad and you have to break the news to someone.  I fully expected my husband to lash out in frustration with his not so sweetly scattered wife....which would have been understandable.  But, he didn't.  He very calmly took a deep breath and told me not to worry about it.  And I heard that word again in my spirit.  "Mercy."

It's a word that was brought to my attention about a week ago while I was watching Veggie Tales with little man.  I had been praying for some guidance about a situation, and that's how God delivered it!  We were watching "Jonah," and I heard a little different perspective on the story.  In all my  recollections of hearing Jonah's story, it has been spun as a lesson about running away from God.  But on the other side of this story is God's mercy for Ninevah.  I had to do a little research to check my facts, but Ninevah was a very powerful and evil city.  Jonah was raised to hate the Assyrians, so when God asked him to go preach there, it was natural for him to run.  Jonah didn't want Ninevah to be redeemed.   Isn't it like us to think we know better than God?  But...God wanted Ninevah to repent, and in the end, because Jonah was eventually obedient, they did just that.  God showed them mercy.   Jonah was frustrated with God for showing them mercy, because he didn't think they deserved it.  Ultimately, God used a vine to show Jonah that he had no right to be angry over God's compassion.  I won't recount all those details....you can find it in Jonah 4.

In the Veggie Tales video, the word "mercy" was defined.  I looked it up and found it defined as "kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly."  I think the kid friendly definition was something like "giving someone another chance when they don't deserve it."  


Knowing that, I think of all the mercy I've received.  Over things as small as shattering my cell phone to as huge as the sum of all my sins.  Shouldn't I, then, be merciful to those I don't think deserve it?  After all, God created them all and loves them all.  And wants me to show compassion just as He would.
Luke 35-36


"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.  Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

As I sat to write this post, still searching for what to say, the song "Mercy" was the first to come up on my playlist.  What perfect words to help us remember the measure of mercy we've been shown.  if you've never heard it, I encourage you to listen.  It's one of my favorites.