I really enjoy sharing my recipes with you here at Raising Homemakers. I will have a new recipe for you all next week, but today I felt led by the Lord to write about sowing mercy and signal graces. Both of these provide God’s healing, comfort and peace when we need them the most.
Two little words can be such a big action. The word mercy is defined as compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. Synonyms for mercy include compassion, grace, pity, charity, forgiveness, and humanity. Showing mercy towards another can sometimes seem impossible though. Have you ever thought, “How can I forgive this person who has wronged me?”
One of the greatest benefits of forgiveness is the healing it brings. Letting go of resentments, bitterness, and past hurts is healing. Have you ever heard the saying “Let go, and let God”? Well, that is what I try and do. And I will be the first to say it’s hard. Sometimes very hard. Whether it’s family, friends, or everyday interactions with others, we should (for our own sake) forgive those that commit a wrong against us.
However, sowing mercy isn’t just forgiving others of their wrongs. It’s also giving random acts of kindness to those less fortunate than ourselves. If I see a need I can meet, then I meet it. Not for personal recognition, but because that’s what I should do because I’m a child of God. We should live our faith and let our light be brighter than our sorrows.
I saw the acorn pictured above one day when I was having a particularly hard time forgiving someone for hurting me. I was taking trash out to the alley that afternoon and I just happened to look down beside the dumpster and there it was. This one caught my eye because it was split in two and the two halves resembled a heart.
God is always revealing His presence to us just like He did to me with this acorn. I like to call these signs ‘signal graces’. He places them around us all the time and He uses them to tell us that He is with us. He also uses them to remind us that all things will work out according to His plan. However, we are often so wrapped up in ourselves and our problems that we don’t notice them. God is trying to speak to you, you just have to be open to them.
I have been so blessed that the difficulties I’ve experienced in my life has strengthened my relationship with my Heavenly Father. This strong relationship has allowed me to see more of His signal graces every day. I hope and pray that you are also able to the signal graces God places around you. If not then I encourage you to take the time to strengthen your relationship with God and to start looking for them. I also want to encourage you to sow mercy by forgiving others (that includes yourself, too) and being charitable to those in need. Both will provide you with comfort, healing, an inner peace and a happier life.
God bless you.
