The Gift of Divine Mercy

Elizabeth Estrada ponders the gift of Divine Mercy and considers moms' need to be merciful to themselves as well as others.

Happy Easter! The Lord is so good to us: not only did He die for us to have a chance to get to heaven, but He also gives us the gift of His mercy.

As I have pondered and heard different perspectives of the word mercy, I believe that it is another word for love, with a much deeper meaning.

Pope John Paul II wrote:

Mercy is the greatest of the attributes and perfections of God, and the Bible, Tradition and the whole faith life of the People of God provide particular proofs of this. (Dives in Misericordia 13).

I think that the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday being during the Easter Season is no coincidence. It reminds me that I too need to be merciful to others but also to myself. As Catholic Christians, we should want to imitate Jesus in every way, including His mercy.

It is easy for moms to practice mercy with our families, friends, and even strangers, but not with ourselves. We allow the evil one to convince us we aren’t good enough by all the negative talk we tell ourselves. I am guilty of this for sure many times and I have to sit with the Lord and remind myself that I am not perfect and the Lord still loves me.

Perhaps reading St. Faustina’s Diary or the many beautiful books about Divine Mercy will help me hear the Lord telling me how much I too deserve his mercy in every way but especially as a mom.

Click to tweet:
It is easy for moms to practice mercy with our families, friends, and even strangers, but not with ourselves. #catholicmom

For years, I have owned St. Faustina’s Diary and other books related to the Diary and I start reading them and never finish them. Could it be the influence of the evil one?

I invite you to read even one sentence a day of the Diary or other book related to it so that your heart can hear his words often especially when you need them most.

After all, He wants to give you this gift.

Will you join me?

Divine Mercy stained glass window