04 Feb Love Mercy.
I’ve been tryin’ to get down
To the heart of the matter but my will gets weak
And my thoughts seem to scatter
But I think it’s about forgiveness, forgiveness… -Don Henley
Love Mercy.
I have read this and sang this and seen this on bumper stickers since I could read:
“He has shown thee, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” Micah 6:8
Apparently I learned it in the King James Version. I don’t usually say thee.
I read it and it hit me this year. It’s my resolution.
Love mercy.
I have five sisters. Sometimes it’s hard to love mercy when you have 5 sisters. Imagine that. I have three teenage daughters. Sometimes it’s hard to love mercy when you have 3 teenagers…who are girls. Imagine that! It’s hard to love mercy when you’re betrayed or beaten down or broken.
I love mercy when the mercy is being shown to me. I love when my husband or my girls or my friends show me mercy. Undeserved grace. A second chance. God is a master of mercy. He specializes in finding a way to bring us along and back onto the right path. He gives us a new blessing when we’ve lost ours. He gives us a new name when we need a new start. He runs to us when we return. His goal is always restoration. He doesn’t want us to suffer; he wants us to be in relationship with Him. He doesn’t remind us over and over what we have done. He reminds us over and over who He is and what He has done. He loves mercy.
I want my kids on the right path, but sometimes I think if I show too much mercy, they won’t learn their lesson. They need a consequence or a punishment. They need a good old lecture to see the error of their ways. They need to pay the price. They need to feel it. I’m pretty sure that is not the definition of loving mercy. I’m not saying to reject discipline; I’m saying to love mercy. It’s not about me. I am really good at the silent treatment. My sisters know it well. If I’m mad at you, you don’t deserve my attention or my incredibly engaging conversation. I’d prefer to run away, rather than run to reconciliation. I’m pretty sure that isn’t loving mercy either.
I’m not sure I even understand what it means to love mercy, but I do know this. Loving mercy is wanting to see everyone have a new name, a new start, and be on the right path, no matter what they’ve done or where they’ve been. Even if they’ve done it to me. Apparently it’s not about me. Or thee.
Love mercy 2015. Let’s do this.
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