Thought for the Week
Our current culture loves to point out people’s failings. It makes us feel strong, righteous. But how often do we really know why others act–or fail to act–the way they do? Before we ridicule or punish people, maybe we need to try better to understand them, to listen before we pronounce “justice” on them. Because when we work to understand others, “old-fashioned” virtues like forbearance and mercy suddenly start to look like what really they are: our greatest strengths.
“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien“Three months ago, if you asked me, I would have told you that if you really loved someone, you’d let them go. But now…I see that I’ve been wrong. If you really love someone…I think you have to take them back.”
~Jodi Picoult (Mercy)“The world will give you that once in awhile, a brief timeout; the boxing bell rings and you go to your corner, where somebody dabs mercy on your beat-up life.”
~Sue Monk Kidd“Love, Mercy, and Grace, sisters all, attend your wounds of silence and hope.”
~Aberjhani“My father never taught me mercy.”
“Can you not learn?”
~Leigh Bardugo
So true!! And you have chosen some wonderful quotes to drive your point home!
Thank you, Colin.
You are most welcome!!! 🙂 🙂
Amen!
As usual, a great post. I wish I could “understand” people who choose not to be vaccinated.
This truly spoke to me today, Mitch. Thank you so much for sharing it.
My pleasure, Tre. Blessings, my friend.
Powerful! Think if we all had the virtue of mercy. Oh what a beautiful life indeed, what God so freely gives to us. It would be like a child getting a credit card, and the parent saying the more you use it the more money you are gifted. What child wouldn’t take advantage of such a great gift!
Oh, if we would only listen! We are not all the same, and we become enriched by learning different perspectives than our own. Until we listen, we won’t understand why people may do the things they do. Thanks for sharing!
My pleasure, Barbara, truly.
And then there’s God’s mercy: “Looking back over my life, all I can see is mercy and grace written in large letters everywhere. May God help me have the same kind of heart toward those who wound or offend me”–Jim Cymbala. P.S. Love that opening Mary Anne Radmacher quote!
And I love your Jim Cymbala quote, Nancy!
Good thoughts to think on. We all could do better with less judging and more understanding.
Beautiful truth.
Yes, sometimes moral values can become weapons when mercy is in fact very much needed but forgotten.
Yep, right there in the Beatitudes, ‘Blessed are the merciful, for…’
Mercy, like forgiveness, is one of the most difficult things for humans to grasp. It doesn’t come naturally. It’s something we must work to achieve, as vengeance is our natural and first instinct.
Sad but true, Jimmy.
These are great quotes and great truths. Thank you for another inspiring post.
My pleasure.
I love this. Besides lumber, computer chips, and wisdom, the world today seems to be suffering from a severe mercy shortage.
I am especially fond of the Sue Monk Kidd quote.
Me too, Russ.
Wow, powerful message!
Love the Tolkien quote especially!
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Sorry, that’s not my thing, Robert. But thanks.
No, problem. Thanks for being straight forward.