mercy cuts time short…
(lest you decide to hate for the rest of your life.)
There was a boy who was born into a certain family. He was taught from the moment he could understand, to hate another family. This family did his family wrong a long time ago and every generation that proceeded forth, continued on with that hatred.
Now this family had good reason to hold things against this other family. For this other family did do many unspeakable things – then attempted to cover them up.
So on and on this went, generation after generation, one family hating another for things done a very long time ago. Then this boy grew up; He reached a certain age where he could now serve in a more proactive role in his family’s struggle for “justice.”
The friends of this boy all thought the same way. And they all fed upon each other’s hatred for this other family. For they were justified.
One day, this now young man confronted one that belonged to the other family. Hatred filled this man; he was ready to do his “duty.” He had been trained by life and taught by men on all those things he must do, when obligated to do them.
But, something happened on that day to that moment of judgment. The man stopped and thought for just a second – just a part of a second. The one he saw standing before him looked just about like he did. He saw another man, similarly dressed, who also, had a family, a wife and two children. He saw that he too, lived in a similar home and had similar issues that he must be dealing with.
In a way, he saw himself… and couldn’t do it. He couldn’t do his duty.
So this man, in shame, turned from this hated adversary and went back home to his family. And he cried for failing to do his duty. His wife also cried. For little did the husband know, that it was her brother he was about to do his duty unto. She could not reveal her true roots, for she truly loved her husband – and her husband loves her.
This man vowed from that day forth, to not hate another. Especially if it’s one who’s only guilty of being associated to a certain family, which during a certain generation, did something wrong. He must do something right.
And his children did not grow up hating. And their children did not grow up hating. And within what seemed to be no time, no one hated anymore, for mercy had shown up at the door.
