The Quality of Mercy

The quality of mercy is not strain'd
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown'
His scepter shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings:
But mercy is above this sceptred sway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself,
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice

I had been memorizing this Shakespeare sonnet From The Merchant of Venice without realizing at that very moment that mercy was walking up my front porch stairs. My doorbell rang and a familiar, well loved young man stood before me. He was off again on a foreign adventure with a humanitarian side and was short of funds. Each student had been assessed an extra cost to help improve a South American school. I told him we would help but I would like our gift to be a family decision. He reacted a little uncomfortably and said that he had to have the money by tomorrow. I assured him that our family would "talk about it tonight and call him back."
My husband and I discussed our young friend's dilemma and decided how much to give. He hadn't planned well but we felt the need to extend mercy. The next day the young man returned to pick up his donation. I handed him the fraction of what he needed, but, perhaps more than he expected, and he responded without hesitation, "I love you." I was so moved that I told him to, "Give me a hug." When we embraced, "It blesseth him that give and him that takes," whispered in my mind.