SJT is hosted weekly by Holly Mueller. Please join us!
Since yesterday was Random Acts of Poetry Day, I humbly put you center stage on my blog platform, dear Portia, to speak to me of mercy. Please remind me, if you will, of the truth about mercy that you first shared with Shylock.
Portia speaks:
Thank you, dear Portia; I admit to you that for most of my adult faith journey– pre-head-on crash with a pickup truck–the inclination of my thoughts, words, and deeds was pushed and pulled–fixated almost–toward justice.
In the aftermath of that event, I have come, by God’s grace, to gravitate more towards Mercy. I have come to know and to believe that Mercy is God’s Greatest Attribute, and that we are most like Him when we show mercy to those who have offended us. I know that now; I believe that now.
But, oh, dear Portia, how often I am like Shylock whom you counseled when you first spoke these words. How often do I demand my pound of flesh!
And when I do that, dear Portia, I know that when I fail to show mercy—refuse to show mercy, I bring about the opposite of what you said. Instead of blessing the one who gives mercy and the one receives it, I spread hatred and destruction—not only on the object of my “justice,” but on myself.
Thank you for sharing once again the words that William Shakespeare first gifted you to say more than four hundred years ago, words that continue to speak truth today.
I pray that, by God’s Grace, I can continue to better heed them. May I learn to forgive as Jesus taught and showed. As God always has shown me mercy, how can I do less for my brothers and sisters in Him?
Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.
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How does the quality of God’s Mercy speak to you and through your life?
Noticings, Wonderings, & Yearnings... 
Let there be mercy in our lives as we resolve issues and be part of humanKIND.
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Your last word gives me goosebumps. Thank you! YOU live that word, you know. Thanks for all the mercy you show–starting with reading/responding to my baby-steps blog:) God bless you!
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I love how you prove that when we fail to show mercy, we hurt Christ and ourselves. What a powerful lesson.
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Thank so much for taking mercy on this blogger and her post–reading & responding. God bless!
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I love the first two lines of “The Quality of Mercy”. I’m thinking about my student story on my post, and even when I could extend mercy, it was somewhat strained. So much to learn from Jesus whose mercy flowed without effort or thought. Mercy is indeed God’s greatest attribute – I was thinking when I read that, that it’s love, but without mercy, love is imperfect. Unlimited, unconditional mercy makes God’s love so perfect. Thank you for your thoughtful, lovely post!
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Thank you so very much, Holly, for taking time to read and to respond. That word “not strained” struck me, too. (In fact, I reflected on those words in comment to Violet’s post.) More than your kind comments, I so very appreciate your hosting SJT. I look forward each week to the acid-test of “seeing” what I think, both in the blog, and in reflection of what others blog and comment. God bless you! Your SJT service is a merciful grace!
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I find it interesting that an incident which might have made you even more judgmental, turned you toward mercy. Sometimes it takes hard lessons like that to jog us from comfortable ruts.
Mercy, not strained or forced. Interesting. I notice in Portia’s words as well, the image of mercy falling like rain. That reminds me of a song I used to listen to by David Ruis – “Mercy is falling… like a sweet spring rain.”
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Thank you so much for taking time to read/share your reflections. All day I’ve been trying to think of the little refrain I heard years ago–similar (same?) words, but by a different artist from the one you mentioned…Tomorrow, I’ll try an Internet search. Thanks for helping me overcome my laziness! Peace!
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