During the civil war, a man by the name of Richard Rowland Kirkland, did an incredible act of mercy. He was a Conferedate solider, and was involved in the battle at Marye's Heights, just over looking the town of Frediricksberg, VA. The Union soliders were demolished, and taken down. The wounded Union soliders could be heard crying throughout the night as they lay dying in the field. Kirkland, who was only 19, asked his commander if he could go out into the field and give all the wounded soliders water, for he couldn't stand to hear their cries of pain any longer. At first he was denied, being told it would be too dangerous for him. He finally was granted permission, and set out to the field that was covered with his enemy, carrying as many canteens over his shoulder as he could. At first the Union soliders were too shocked to realize what was going on. But soon when they saw this young solider had come to help them in their time of need, their cries of pain turned to cries for water. This boy walked from solider to solider, giving aide to his enemy. A monument is now up in his honor calling him "The Angel of Marey's Heights" in Fredricksberg, VA.
I want to visit that monument. That story is incredible to me. This young boy chose to help out his enemies in their time of need when he easily could have justified turning his back. How many times have I helped out those I don't feel too fond of? I'm embarrassed to admit it. How can I expect mercy from my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ when I won't help out those around me that I can see need it, even if I'm not on the best of terms with them? It doesn't make sense. I can't expect what I don't try and give as well.
Mercy ties in so tightly with forgiveness. Just like the Lord stated "I will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men." I always thought forgiving others wasn't too hard of a task until I went through a time where I suffered a lot because of the actions of someone else. I felt justified for a long time in feeling anger towards this person because I had done nothing to deserve it, yet I was feeling all the pain. I finally realized the only way I could really move on was to forgive this person, and stop blaming them for my negative and hurt feelings. I remember reading out of the book "The Miracle of Forgiveness" a quote that said "We don't forgive and forget. We forgive to forget.". I still try and remember that quote when feelings try to bubble up, causing me to feel justified. Jesus Christ forgave those who crucified him right there on the cross moments before he died because of their actions, not his. How can I justify my little spat compared to that? Heavenly Father made a plan with forgiveness at the center. My heart has room to forgive.
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