In a previous week, we talked about how justice is when people get what they need and what they deserve. Mercy is when people get more than they deserve. We also talked about forgiveness. Mercy is a lot like forgiveness, but mercy can extend to people who haven’t personally harmed you, but their actions have hurt others. You may show mercy for people who have harmed others with their behaviour and are suffering consequences. You feel compassion for them and may try to help them. When we are merciful, we are willing to start over and give someone another chance. Their past mistakes are wiped clean. In order to extend mercy to someone, they need to regret their actions, apologize, admit where they were wrong, and ask for your forgiveness.
This was a surprisingly difficult virtue to find represented in secular children’s books, perhaps because it is more political, religious, and more difficult to understand in a child’s daily life than forgiveness. Here are some options!
The Three Bears by Paul Galdone
Goldilocks breaks into their homes, eats their food, breaks their furniture, and sleeps in their beds, and she just gets away without consequence? These bears are pretty merciful. I can’t say I’d be the same if someone broke into my house, ate my food, broke my stuff, and slept in my bed….
And You Can be the Cat by Hazel Hutchins
This is one of my favourite books from my childhood, written by a Canadian author. It is about normal sibling dynamics when one child has a friend over for a playdate and the younger sibling is not included in the game. He gets annoyed and decides to create his own game, which then his older sister and her friend are inspired to try to take over. The little brother is merciful and does decide to include his sister in his game, even though she’s been pretty selfish.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Maybe this is a stretch to include this one in with books about mercy, but the part at the end where the mom makes sure his supper is still hot (because she loves him even when he misbehaves) just warms my heart. I see it as an example of mercy.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
One thing I’ve noticed as a Canadian expat living in the USA is Americans have complicated feelings about this book! My Canadian friends love it. But my American friends just don’t love how the tree just constantly submits to the boy’s wishes until it is cut down to nothing. I think this book is an example of merciful love and generosity. Even though the boy doesn’t deserve to take anything more from the tree (what has it done for the tree anyhow?), the tree continues to mercifully give of itself.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
The Grinch stole Christmas and tried to ruin it for everybody just because he didn’t like people being happy. But the Whos mercifully forgave him and included him in celebrating Christmas.
How do these books make you feel? Do you feel complicated emotions related to them, as I do? Do you have any other suggestions for books about mercy? I’d love to hear from you!
Warmly,
-Heather
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