THE Mystery Of Mercy

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
(Lamentations 3:22-23)

Mercy is a mystery, one that makes little sense; it's not something easily defined, but when we see it or experience it we are certain of its truth.  Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines mercy as, "That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forebear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant.  ...To have no means of self-defense, but to be dependent for safety on the mercy or compassion of another..." 

It is Sydney Carton laying down his life for Charles Darnay because of his love for Lucy. (A Tale of Two Cities--Charles Dickens)
It is the Good Samaritan helping the man beaten and robbed, getting him to a place of safety and paying for his care until he is well.  (Luke 10:25-37)
It is Jesus laying down his life for us 'while we were still sinners.' (Romans 5:8)

Mercy is love that is crushed for the sake of another.
Mercy is love that sees fault yet focuses on forgiveness.
Mercy is love that stoops to lift the one who cannot life himself.
Mercy is love that overlooks the deepest poverty of soul and sees the speck of light within.
Mercy is love that absorbs failure and in return gives victory.
Mercy is love the bows down low to grasp the undeserving hand of an enemy.
Mercy is love that hears the cry of the broken and brings peace.
Mercy is love that overwhelms the fallen, restores the sick, captivates the sinner, and compels the saint.
Mercy is love that expects nothing in return yet gives everything.
Mercy is love that drowns the impetus of fear.
Mercy is love that runs with open arms to the abandoned, betrayed, belittled, and forsaken.
Mercy is love that never fails, never ceases, and never quits.
Mercy is love that carries the burden of another.
Mercy is love that acts on unconditional impulse.
Mercy is love that speaks, dispelling silence.
Mercy is love that dies so that others might live.
Mercy is love that inspires sacrifice.

Extend mercy...love extravagantly...forgive abundantly


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Written by Anne Marie Hawke 
September 2019

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