No mercy! None expected, none...
Illustration
"No mercy! None expected, none given." This statement printed on a middle school student's T-shirt caught the attention of a teacher. The boy was assigned to in-school suspension for fighting in the hallway.
"Do you really believe what is written on your shirt?" he asked.
"I wouldn't wear it if I didn't!" he shot back.
"Do you know what 'mercy' means?" pressed the teacher.
"It means I give as good as I get! If someone hurts me, I hurt them back, only worse!"
"But suppose someone is really kind to you. How do you respond to that?" he suggested.
"I-I guess I'd be kind right back," he stammered.
"Then wouldn't you be receiving some sort of mercy, and giving it right back?" he asked, placing his hand on the student's shoulder.
"I suppose so, but it doesn't happen very often!" he admitted.
"Perhaps if you began each day expecting goodness and mercy, instead of trouble, you'd have a happier day," he countered.
"Do you really believe what is written on your shirt?" he asked.
"I wouldn't wear it if I didn't!" he shot back.
"Do you know what 'mercy' means?" pressed the teacher.
"It means I give as good as I get! If someone hurts me, I hurt them back, only worse!"
"But suppose someone is really kind to you. How do you respond to that?" he suggested.
"I-I guess I'd be kind right back," he stammered.
"Then wouldn't you be receiving some sort of mercy, and giving it right back?" he asked, placing his hand on the student's shoulder.
"I suppose so, but it doesn't happen very often!" he admitted.
"Perhaps if you began each day expecting goodness and mercy, instead of trouble, you'd have a happier day," he countered.
