“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.”
-Abraham Lincoln
President Abraham Lincoln was known for his eloquent and to the point speeches as well as certain quotes. And this one is no different. Often times when certain event occur everyone looks for that swift hand of strict justice: one that punishes for the wrong that has been done and fight for a good cause. We often forget that sometimes, and depending on the severity of the wrong that has been done, that mercy can be bestowed on someone in the hopes that that person can right their wrong.
Through mercy we are able to show a sense of grace, compassion and in some ways forgiveness to someone else and that can be sometimes more impactful than strict justice. As an educator I learned that when a student in my class did something wrong it was more of a teachable moment than a punishable one. Sometimes they didn’t know what they didn’t know and had to be shown right from wrong. When this happened and I had this opportunity I made the most of it. Did it work all the time? No. But that was ok. The student had the opportunity to learn from their mistake and that is all I could give them: an opportunity to rectify the situation.
In life mercy can be a powerful, teachable tool for those in need of some love and guidance.
What does this quote mean to you and how can you apply today’s message towards becoming more socially aware?
Becoming The Change 
So very true!
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