The dictionary defines mercy as a favour done to an undeserving person.
A servant of God illustrated this with a befitting example.
This incident happened in Chennai. A thief got up in the night and prayed. “Lord! I am going for work now. Please show me the best place from where I can steal. If I get a good booty, then Your share will also be good.” Praising God, he started roaming about.
Having seen a beautiful bungalow, he stepped in through the back door. He entered the main room broke open the cupboards, kept examining the things therein one by one, deciding what to take and what to leave behind.
To his utter dismay, all the lights in that room became alive. “Hey! Who switched on the lights?” There stood a man before him with a revolver in his hands. The thief trembled and fell at his feet. “Get up! Walk with me.” Came his hoarse voice. Then he showed him a chair. The thief sat down. The man told his wife, “Honey! Prepare some good tea for him.” Then he offered a cup of tea.
The thief drank while still shivering. Still holding the revolver, he enquired him. “What is your name? Where from do you come?” After hearing he asked the following question. “Do you know to whom you are talking?” The thief replied ‘No’. Softy came the reply. “I am the Director General of Police.” Once again he raised his voice. “Promise me that you will lead a life by working for your livelihood in the right way. Otherwise, I will hand you over to the policemen.”
The thief fell at his feet. “Sir! I promise not to steal hereafter.” This favour of a great man on a thief who did not deserve pardon is called mercy.
There is a wonderful proverb which says, “To err is human to forgive is divine.” Everybody commits mistakes but the one who forgives has a divine nature. God has this forgiving nature and that is called MERCY.
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Esther,
I liked the way you used real life situation to bring the point across. It would be interesting to know if the thief did keep his promise..:) Thanks for sharing. Janice
