“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” – Matthew 5:7, NIV
Logan was in the kitchen, making his girls’ their school lunches when he heard the scream. He went running into their bedroom, prepared to face an intruder, huge insect, or other threat to his daughters.
Instead, what he found was Zoey, his five-year-old, tearfully trying to fix a book with a torn page. Also in the room was Scarlett, his six-year-old, who was very upset about the book. “Daddy, I told her. I told her to be careful.”
Logan knelt to examine the book and took it from Zoey’s hands. “This is something I can help with. It just needs tape. Scarlett, it’s not a big deal.”
Scarlett gestured to the page. “Yes, it is! This was a library book, and I let her borrow my card.” She sniffed.
Logan sighed and set the book down. “Scarlett, do you know what mercy is?”
When she shook her head, he said, “It’s when you forgive somebody for hurting you. Even if they didn’t mean to do so. Zoe, did you do this on purpose?”
“I just wanted to look at it for a minute…I didn’t mean for it to happen. I’m sorry, really.” Zoey said quietly.
Logan grabbed tape and pieced the page together again. “God likes it when we show mercy toward each other. Scarlett, does that sound like something you’d like to try?”
Scarlett glanced from the book to her sister. “I want to…can I ask God to help me?”
God, let me show mercy when someone else hurts me. But I can’t do it on my own. I need Your strength in order to forgive. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
