Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7



Monday, December 21, 2015

Mercy -- the Most Important Gift





It's mad-dash week. With Christmas landing on Friday, most folks have almost an entire work week to dash around getting their shopping finished (or shopping started) and cram in all the other day-to-day activities that need to be done because of life -- laundry, cooking, cleaning. It's the craziest week of the year, I believe.

As a result of the craziness, many (most) of us forget what this great Holy Day is all about, or at least we forget in the moment -- when pushing a cart full of items that could have been purchased weeks, or even months ago, through a store crowded with other people who are frantically looking for the right thing, or maybe just anything to fill the need of giving. We forget when we gather with family and we observe our child's feelings hurt by a family member and the mother bear in us comes roaring up to full height. We forget while rushing about and dismissing someone's needs because we have a to-do list to get finished.

My mother reminded me this morning that we are in the Year of Mercy -- forgiveness is in order, forgetting hurt feelings for the sake of Mercy (and to keep from constantly poking that hurt inside, like one's tongue poking a sore tooth); giving everyone the benefit of the doubt, assuming that each person we encounter has a cross heavier than our own; looking at each individual with the eyes of Mercy -- as Our Lord does; giving much more than we get because each soul is more important than any earthly need. That is what this great Holy Day is about -- embracing the Infant God as we celebrate the Mercy He has brought to us through His birth.

So in this last crazy week before we celebrate the birth of Our Savior, remember that no wrapped gift, no baked cookie, no perfectly prepared meal is as important as the Mercy we show toward each other. I'm tempted to have it tattooed somewhere on my body where I can see the word and remember -- Mercy toward all God's children is the only thing that matters this season.

I'm checking out of social media for the rest of the week. I'll answer comments here and emails, but otherwise... silence.




12 comments:

  1. {hugs} Merry Christmas, almost. I spent a good part of an hour at the post office yesterday, which was truly a penitential activity. I managed ok, but many people are not bearing up to the fortitude required this last week. But I am finding plenty of cheerful people as well, when I take the time to make eye contact and smile. Have a great week, Barbara!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree that this week and the hustle-bustle does not bring out the merriness of most people. I have to go grocery shopping today, but then I'm pretty sure I'm in for the rest of the week. I'm not a good shopper on a good day, so it's best I stay away from stores. Hopefully I was cheerful yesterday, though penitential is the right word for my activities. Merry Christmas to you, too! I didn't have your address this year to send a card. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I got yours in the mail yesterday. I still have one box to get out, but it will have to wait for other, more pressing things. I think we will get a lot of cards next week, after the post office manages to forward them!

      Delete
    2. Really? Did I send it to the old address? I remember looking for a new address, but didn't think I found it.

      Delete
  3. oh no, I didn't get one from you....or from many people. I meant I suspect many were sent to our old address, not yours, but others.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, Barbara! I love that message. For some reason, this "year of mercy" has really resonated with me more than other "year of ...". And I love how you put it into words.

    I have to say, I love simplicity and I'm LOVIN' your Advent candle display.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Patty.

      And the simplicity of my Advent wreath is the result of fires -- two years in a row -- from the Advent wreath. No more unattended tapers.

      Delete
  5. This is one of the most beautiful blog posts that I've been blessed to read this week. Silence IS golden, but so is hearing the perfect message at the very best time. Love to you, dearest sister of the heart! May we continue to seek Him in all things.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, friend. But, I have to continually remind myself to be merciful, in all ways, to all people. I often find it would be easier to be merciful to the homeless, the sick, the needy than my own family. But we're all homeless in some way, sick and needy, aren't we?

      Delete
  6. This mercy encompasses so many aspects of our lives. I believe that we will (if we try) all find the way that we need to be merciful in our own lives. It's easy to think that it doesn't apply to us, but it does.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yes, it does, Sara. If we're honest with ourselves, we can spot the places we need to be merciful.

      Delete
  7. What an important reminder...mercy. May God's mercy reign down on each one of us and may we pass it on to others!

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate your comments -- sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself!