Mercy - (mƏrsē)

The dictionary definition for 'Mercy' is:  "Compassion or Forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm"

Nehemiah 9:31 states:  "But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God." (NIV)

I have experienced 'mercy' many times in my life, but there are three that standout the most.  First, at age 19, I enrolled at Northwest Bible College as a mature student.  I did not finish my high school, but since I was 19, I was considered a mature student, so I was accepted.  Since it was a bible college that I was attending, I had to follow the rules about abstaining from anything that would be considered questionable, at and outside of school.  For example, going to a bar, living with the opposite sex, etc.  Since I did not have rich parents, I had to work my way through college.  It was hard finding a job, especially since I did not finish high school.  However, I got a job in a cafeteria-style restaurant where I was a dish girl.  I would clean the tables and take the dishes to the back to wash.   What could be wrong with being a dishwasher?  It was easy, hard, but easy.  I cleaned the miss up under the tables and on top of the tables.  I loaded the dirty dishes into the bin on my cart and took them to the back to be washed.  Oh yes, I also picked up empty and not so empty beer bottles.  This bothered me.  Why?  Well I was a new Christian and going to Bible college and did not want anything to tarnish my character.  Hey, I was a baby Christian.

Well you guessed it; I quit my job because of those dirty beer bottles.   But I needed the job.  So Monday morning I went and spoke with Mrs. Francis the Ethics teacher.  Yes, I studied ethics.  I explained to her my dilemma.  I thought for sure she would profoundly state that I should not work in that job.  But she did not!  She said something to me that has always been an example to me in how I treat others.  "Penny, I myself would not work in that kind of job, but you need work for school.  Penny, it's not my place to judge you or tell you not to work there."   After school, I called up my manager and explained why I quit and I was wrong to.  She took me back and gave me a second chance - What mercy from two wonderful people.

Second, I hate tests or exams, because my mind always goes blank during the exam.  In the same named college, my second year course topic was Christology; I failed the final exam and course.  When I went to the last day of class, I felt bad.  I could not believe I failed, but hey, the exam carried the weight of the mark.  My professor walks into the classroom and everyone stops talking.  He puts the exams on his desk and looks up at us and states: "Most everyone in this class failed the exam and it was my fault."  I could not believe what I was hearing.  "I must have taught over your heads" he continues, "I am going to give you the same test again and a day to study for it."   He did not have to do that.  Some passed the exam, but not many.  But that is not his fault.  I could not believe he decided to give us a second chance.  I studied and the rest of the class and everyone passed the course.  We all got a C-, but that is better than a fail.  Mercy in skin!  By the way, third year I had this professor again and I got and 'A’ in his class and without taking the exam over.

Finally, I was finishing my high school in a Vocational school and I had a math test.  Nice thing about a vocational school, you are treated like adults.  So this particular morning of the exam, I bring a coffee into the classroom.  As I went to put it on my desk, you guessed it; the cup fell to the floor.  I dashed out of the classroom to the washroom and brought a ton of paper towels with me to wipe up the coffee.  By the way, did I say I was two minutes late into the exam?  The teacher took the paper towels from me and told me to sit and do the test and she will clean my miss up.  She informed me she wanted me to have the same time as the class to finish my test.  She did not have to do that; it was my fault in being late and dropping a coffee.  Again, Mercy in skin!

When we see mercy in action, we should not tuck it away and forget it.  We should remember it.  Take time to count our blessings (Mercies), so that we can give mercy when it is needed.  A great story explains this in the Bible, Matthew 18:21-35 - The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant.  I will let you read this story.  Let's remember to show mercy when it is in our power to do so.  You never know, you may need it again.