I was excited to take the spiritual gifts inventory! How fun! “What will I learn about myself?” Twenty to thirty minutes later the survey was complete. The findings? Some were not surprising. They confirmed what I’d already suspected about my interests and strengths. The weaknesses made sense too.
Except for one.
I. Had. No. Mercy.
“Really?” Mercy rated the lowest score you could possibly get and still have a digit land somewhere on the scale.
Wow. Just, wow.
I am virtually merciless.
My first temptation was to rip the survey and declare the findings defunct. There was just one problem. I knew it was true. At least in part. Perhaps it would be unfair to say I had NO mercy but the black and white declaration that it was a weakness resonated.
Isn’t it funny how God can put someone in your life that you never fully appreciate until years later? The husband God gave me overflows with mercy. My lack of mercy is matched, even superseded by his abundance of it.
Doc calls it “new day”. He’s quick to overlook an offense. He’s ready to move on and start a new day. It doesn’t matter if the new day begins at 11:00 am or 11:00 pm.
Mercy know’s no schedule.
Singer Matthew West calls it Day One. I’ll close my little post today with——
his song
a prayer
and my hope for mercy to be known-both in my own life and in the lives of those around me.
Call it new day…call it day one…let’s just make sure we call it.
{If you’d like to see what your spiritual gifts are (as well as areas you can grow 🙂 ) check out Renee Swope’s Spiritual Gift Assessment from her book A Confident Heart!}
“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much…” Eph 2:4
(If you’d like more encouragement on Mercy stop over at Suzie Ellers#livefree!)
Your DoAhead Friend,
Mercy has no time clock. Cindy, that’s beautiful. And it’s weird, because if you had asked me if you had the gift of mercy, my answer would be 100% yes. So, somehow Jesus’ mercy shines through the gaps the test didn’t catch. <3
Thank heaven He does what He does and does it so well. (Sounds like a verse from a Mary Poppins song!) Thanks for stopping over Suzie!
Cindy – Are you SURE that was YOUR test you took? I have always known you to be exceedingly merciful! Funny how Jesus in us works through the areas we feel deficient. To quote Philip Yancey (What’s So Amazing About Grace?): “Imperfections … are the prerequisite for grace. Light only gets in through the cracks.”
Yes Debbie! It was MY test! I’m grateful for a God that know’s the deepest parts of us and settles for nothing less than whole- hearted Christ-like transformation. Light that shines through the cracks indeed!! Love you girl!