mercy cannot rob justice

Parenting continues to teach me about the plan of salvation. Mortal life becomes an object lesson for eternal truths. Today's object lesson was "Mercy cannot rob justice."

Elder Packer gave us a timeless parable in his April 1977 conference address "The Mediator". In it, a man goes into debt and puts off making meaningful progress paying back the loan. The day that full payment is due arrives and the man isn’t able to repay the loan. The creditor demands the man be imprisoned according to the justice of the contract while the man pleads for mercy. Mercy would leave the debt unpaid while justice would see the man imprisoned. The creditor says, "Mercy cannot rob justice". A merciful friend agrees to pay the debt to satisfy justice if the man will agree to strict repayment terms with the friend as the creditor.  

"And so it was that the creditor was paid in full. He had been justly dealt with. No contract had been broken. The debtor, in turn, had been extended mercy. Both laws stood fulfilled. Because there was a mediator, justice had claimed its full share, and mercy was fully satisfied."

We have many creditors in life. Whether it's money, education, or preparation, the future we want tomorrow demands payments today. The eternal principle of mercy and justice, sin and repentance have more mundane counterparts. As a parent, I have to be creditor and merciful friend.   

Today, I came to understand mercy differently. I try to set reasonable expectations, privileges, and consequences. If I fail to meet out the agreed to privileges or consequences, I'm untrustworthy. Worse, the creditor of my child's future is robbed. They then expect something for nothing and enter adulthood unprepared. My child pays for my failure.

Mercy, as a parent, is teaching. Often, that teaching is simply reminding. As annoying as children may find it, reminding is mercy.   

Isaiah 9:12

2 Nephi 19:12

Jacob 6:4

3 Nephi 10:4-6

Matthew 23:37

Doctrine & Covenants 43:23-25

As a parent, it's my responsibility to be merciful, patient, and kind without robbing my child of lessons needed for their future. As a child of a perfect and loving Heavenly Father, it's my responsibility to heed His merciful call with humility instead of annoyance.