"Mercy"

He was whippin’ and a-spurrin’,

At a frantic pace,

And you would be plumb horrified,

By the panic on his face.

He slid stopped at the hitch rail,

Horse all lathered hot,

Stepped down, made a beeline,

For the far back forty lot.

We followed him way back there,

Wondered what on earth,

Left his pony blowing,

Never loosened up his girth.

And there we found him hidin’,

Beneath a big hay trough,

Said he’s never coming out,

So we could just bug off.

But Dad was not a coddler,

And he would have to know,

What this kid was doin’,

Or he’d just have to go.

And slowly came the answer,

He’d gone and shot a horse,

Totally an accident,

He didn’t mean of course.

He worked for old man Timberlake,

Right down the Danville road,

Been sent to rope the old man’s bull,

And when his rope he throwed,

He got all tangled with the bull,

A bad one sure to fight,

As soon as he got near those horns,

He was lookin’ for daylight.

Old Dan was not a young horse,

He’d seen a better day,

But he was the boss’s favorite,

So to make him safe okay,

Little Sam had pulled his gun,

To try to shoot the bull,

But instead he shot ‘em both,

It’s why his heart was full,

Of a lot of fear and panic,

He thought he’d better run,

Get clean out the county,

And sure his job was done.

Along about that moment,

Old man Timberlake arrived,

Stepped out of his buggy,

Both horse and bull deprived.

Little Sam just stood there,

Expecting all the worst,

But then the man surprised him,

He took his hand at first.

And then he looked him in the eye,

Said words I won’t forget,

Just like it was yesterday,

I remember so well yet.

Said, son, I know you’re sorry,

And feeling really bad,

About what happened out there,

To the bull and horse we had.

But when I was about your age,

A bad wreck involved me,

A cowboy friend lost his life,

And I was blamed you see.

I said if I could ever,

Show somebody grace,

I’d try to give ‘em mercy,

I’ve been there in their place.

I’m giving you forgiveness,

So now let’s go back home,

You still have a job with me,

There’s no need to roam.

And that was just what happened,

They didn’t stay too long,

But forgiving is the way to go,

When people do you wrong.

Remember old man Timberlake,

And little Sammy, too,

The next time one needs mercy,

You’ll know just what to do.

“…be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another…” (Eph. 4:32, NLT)

We’ve been forgiven by God, therefore we are expected by God to pass along the forgiveness we have received. To receive the forgiveness we so desperately need, and then to withhold from others this same forgiveness is a serious breach indeed. Yet it happens all the time. And we all know why. When we have been wronged, it’s hard to let it go. Hurt turns to anger and anger to bitterness and resentment. Everyone knows how poisonous it is, both to ourselves and every relationship. So, we need to seriously think about it. Who do we need to forgive? Whose debt should we cancel? What offense or hurt do we need to let go so we can be healed and healthy? Now it the time to get this done, with God’s help.

Lord, help us forgive others as freely as You have forgiven us, in Jesus’ name.

Art by R.S. Riddick, rsriddick.com. Used by permission. Thanks, and God bless you.