Do you remember when I was learning about humility? Well, lately, it’s been mercy. I like to say I am “mercy challenged.”
…
His name was Michael. He was selling Clear Miracle Citrus, $50 cleaner, which I surely didn’t need. I’m frugal, people! And I rarely buy things from anyone who comes to my door. But there was something about him…something about that moment. He was trying so hard — with all his heart, all his might — to get me to buy this. In my head, I ask “Lord, what is this about? What do I do?” In that moment, I look back up into his deep brown eyes and he says, “You see, I made a promise to the Lord that I wouldn’t go back to selling drugs, to living the way I was.”
And I knew. Any excuses I would have put forth about how I, a stay at home Mom, don’t have 50 extra dollars were refuted by my four year old son marching around in his $35 storm trooper helmet I had bought him that morning, just because (which I also never do). I didn’t have money for that either.
So I bought some Clear Miracle cleaner. And we talked about how hard it was going to be and about what he might do when it got hard. And I said I would pray for him, for the next year. And I have. Not every single day. But when he comes to mind, which he has. A lot. Especially when I see the piece of paper with his name on it. Or the bottle of Clear Miracle. Or this.
Mercy. Some situations, some relationships will never be repaired without the generous application of mercy. God calls us to this. It’s not fun. It doesn’t make sense. It’s humbling. But it matters.
This wasn’t just an isolated moment of clarity. This was a journey. Something I’ve been asking God about for years. and he’s been stringing together his answer — in a song, in a nudge, in a pair of deep brown eyes.
Praise Him. I surely wouldn’t do it without Him.
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. ~Micah 7:18
That was simply beautiful, Elaine.
Lovely. I’m more grace-challenged.
But what I want to know is, how miracle of a cleaner just was Clear Miracle Citrus miracle cleaner? $50 buys a ton ‘o Pine Sol.
Y’know b, the efficacy of the cleaner became a moot point to me. I REALLY didn’t need it. I’m a couponer; I can get Lysol products for .50 on sale. I kind of set it aside as some sort of holy relic until very recently. It’s diluted, of course, and you can reconstitute it in various incarnations of kick-ass-ness. I will say that I just mixed up my first low grade batch in a spray bottle, and it’s doing a very fine job of degreasing my sink. Other than that, I’ve not put it to the test.
i love this post. love.