Texture by Kim Klassen Cafe: Shine
Mercy: noun ˈmər-sē Compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power; also: lenient or compassionate treatment
Martin Luther King Jr. once said, Cowardice asks the question: is it safe? Expediency asks the question: is it politic? Vanity asks the question: is it popular? But conscience asks the question: is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular- but one must take it simply because it is right.
Whether or not to be merciful to someone is a tricky decision. Many will see weakness if compassion is unnecessarily extended. Granted, extending mercy to someone can be risky, causing that person to think they can always get away with doing wrongful things. But what kind of world would this be if no one ever extended mercy and compassion to others?
Sometimes it’s just not politically correct to show mercy towards another person or group of people. We run the risk of being labeled and possibly publicly ridiculed. And then we’re not on the A-list for future status considerations.
Sometimes it’s not popular to extend mercy. Most of the time, our culture demands revenge. After all, it’s so much more fun to plot revenge against someone who has crossed us than show compassion and try and understand the reasons for the actions.
And, let’s admit it. We all want others to be merciful and compassionate to us, despite what we’ve said and done. After all, we’re only human; we didn’t really mean it. But ask us to be merciful? Well…all of a sudden it’s very conditional, isn’t it?
I think Honest Abe is spot-on with his quote. The true measure of someone’s character lies in how they respond to others when they have the upper hand. Giving someone power over another is the fastest way to show whether they truly know the difference between kindness and meanness; benevolence and intolerance; mercy and uncompassion.
Because, as they say, Karma is a bitch. What goes around tends to eventually come around.
Blessed are the merciful; for they shall receive mercy.
~Jesus; Matthew 5:7
Linking up with ABC Wednesday Round 10
Peripheral Perceptions 
I try to be compassionate, but there are times I feel like I’ve been too merciful to the same people for the same infractions and I just want to be done with trying to understand…eventually, I let it go, but I admit sometimes I stew a bit first!
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I suppose it really depends on whether they are sincerely sorry for the infractions or just think they can always be pardoned no matter what!
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What a great post! And a wonderful teaching as well. It goes back to the Golden Rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
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Thank you for this post!If somebody has insulted me and ask forgiveness, I’ll certainly shall be merciful, but most of the times he or she doesn’t ask forgiveness. In that case I ignore that person, for I don’t want to be hurt another time. I don’t know a better way to stop this person from insulting me again.
Have a great week!
Wil, ABC Wednesday Team.
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Well put…apparently, my #1 gift is that of mercy and I had to stop and really think about it when I found out. It is important, though, that if you show mercy to someone that they don’t consider it an okay to continue with that particular behaviour.
Leslie
abcw team
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My opinion is that mercy is most of the time not easy! Great post:)
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But, Lisa- how does one know when another is SINCERELY sorry?
I think the issuance of mercy is less dependent on another’s heart, and more on our own.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
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Very very true. We ask for mercy every day from God and then turn right around and do the same things! But like David, we repent and ask for help in changing our behaviors.
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A wonderfully thoughtful post.
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Mercy can be difficult when others do us wrong.
I agree with Roger, its about our own heart.
Terrific post Lisa.
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I really like That Abe Lincoln quote. I’d like to see some of our politicians take that to heart.
I also agree with Roger. At some point in life there will be those who don’t seek forgiveness or mercy. Can we extend mercy to those who don’t deserve it?
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Ah, but do any of us really “deserve” it?
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I think Honest Abe was spot-on too.
Great post, and I think I’ll hang the quote strategically at work! 🙂
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Really true! One of those where it comes off as a little trite but when you really, really think about it it’s absolutely true, just hard to accept.
Nice post.
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