One night in 1935, Fiorello H. La Guardia, mayor of New York, showed up at a night court in the poorest ward of the city. He dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench. One case involved an elderly woman who was caught stealing bread to feed her grandchildren. La Guardia said, “I’ve got to punish you. Ten dollars or ten days in jail.”
As he spoke, he threw $10 into his hat. He then fined everyone in the courtroom 50 cents for living in a city “where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat.” The hat was passed around, and the woman left the courtroom with her fine paid and an additional $47.50.
Are you willing to be merciful this week? Do you know someone who’s lonely that you ought to visit? Do you know somebody who is sick that needs a call or a card, or maybe a visit? Do you know somebody who has recently been fractured and is hurting through a divorce, through a death? Let the Lord jog your memory. If the Spirit of God assigns it, won’t you do it? Maybe you need to say, “Lord, I want to show what you’ve shown to me; help me to reach out in mercy.” You will be blessed and happy, and many other people will be happy also. Amen and Amen.
– Pastor Rob Pesola