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Choosing to Show Mercy
By Laura Bailey "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. " - 1 Timothy 1:15-16 NIV "But, Mom, you don't know what she did to me!" This is a repeat response in my house when I tell one of my daughters to forgive the other. Instead of diving into the details of the offense, I redirect my girls to focus on forgiveness. Since all three of my daughters are under nine, the offenses are relatively insignificant (in the grand scheme of things); however, to them, an accidental push, a broken toy, or a comment about their outfit is usually considered unforgivable. The girls are often overly offended by their sister's actions. However, they almost always easily ignore their past transgression. And despite my evident frustration, they desire that I divvy the strictest punishments. This is one of the many reasons motherhood is so sanctifying. The Lord always uses my children to expose areas of sin in my life. I can easily see the stubbornness and pettiness in my children, but I can quickly gloss over it in my own life. Can you relate to one of these situations? Friend, we are called to show mercy whatever wrong has been done to you, no matter how deep the hurt, the ripple effects of the harm, or the significant impact on your life. Why? Because we, too, are sinners capable of harming those around us, but more critically, sinning against a Holy God. We must be like Paul, keeping a humble view of ourselves and remembering that we are the chief sinners. Showing mercy, forgiving, and loving the unlovable preaches easy but can be hard to practice. | 
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