Forgiveness and Mercy The Twin Virtues That Will Heal Our Hearts, Homes and Nations

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Published on Socyberty, Jan 24, 2011 Category – Philosophy

Forgiveness is defined as to grant free pardon and to give up all claim on account of an offense or debt. While Mercy it is a word used to describe compassion shown by one person to another or a request from one person to another to be shown such leniency or unwarranted compassion for a crime or wrongdoing.

This is another love of sharing. I see that forgiveness, mercy and compassion are the essence of goodness. We need these qualities in homes where tiny hills of misunderstanding grow into mountains of argument between husband and wife, parents and children, friends between friends, neighbors between neighbors that sometimes hang on to grievance for years and even for a lifetime.

We need them among neighbors whose insignificant differences sometimes lead to undying bitterness. We need them among business associates who quarrel and refuse to compromise or forgive when, in most instances, a willingness to sit down together, exercise compassion and speak quietly one to another could resolve the matter to the blessing of all. We have to accept that there are many people spend their days blaming others, nurturing enmity and planning vengeance.

There are those who would look upon these virtues as signs of weakness. But it takes neither strength nor intelligence to brood in anger over wrongs suffered, to go through life with a spirit of vindictiveness, to dissipate one’s abilities in planning revenge or to press a grievance when someone else is down.

There is no genius or peace in the nursing of a grudge. It only promotes a spirit of retaliation rather than conciliation, cooperation and friendship. How lucky are those who have reached the stage of compassion, love and forgiveness.

Most of us have not reached yet that stage as it is not easy to reach. It requires a self discipline almost greater than we are capable of. It requires the ability to let go of our pride. The application of this principle of forgiveness would have a miraculous effect on our troubled homes. Mostly of us know that selfishness is the cause of most of our misery.

The willingness to forgive is a sign of spiritual and emotional maturity. It is one of the great virtues to which we all should yearn. The virtues of forgiveness and mercy must often be exercised together because we live in a world where there is much harshness, hostility and greed. If cultivated among all men and women, the virtue of mercy would put an end to the enormities of conflict.

To read more articles on virtues – click the following: Love, Honesty, Morality, Civility and Learning. Happy reading!

We have much for which we should be grateful such as the comforts of our modern society, sophisticated global communication that allows us easy access to the entire world and the privilege of living with freedom. Forgiving, forgetting and extending mercy to those who may have wronged us will help heal our hearts, homes and nations because hatred always fails and bitterness always destroys!