Mercy and forgiveness are among the greatest gifts of love we can give to help another. Portia in Shakespeare’s, Merchant of Venice has said it better than most, “The quality of mercy is not strain’d, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.” Enough said. Tip:          Pick someone near-by who has hurt us and forgive. It’s best if you can say that word directly to the person. If not, then at least begin to say mercy in your own heart. Click here for today’s readings.   Verse: John 8:12 I am…

  Reflection of the Day: I often have discussions about the difference between “forgiving” and “forgetting.” I am pretty strong in my perspective on this. I am never going to forget what Dick Fisher did to me in 6th grade. He pushed me over in the playground and then got a group of his friends to threaten to beat me up. Fortunately, it did not amount to much. But I won’t forget it. However, within a month I forgave him. I could give scores of examples, some much more significant than that , but I just want to make my point. We can forgive without forgetting. Let me go a…