"Honestly, we forgive FOR ourselves—it's an internal action that unhooks ourselves from whatever injustice we perceive. It is an act of letting go, of refusing to poison ourselves with anger, dismay, resentment, or frustration. The other person needs to do nothing in order for us to begin the process of forgiveness in order to liberate ourselves. Mercy, on the other hand, is how we extend forgiveness to others. It's an expression of love that's external, despite how someone else may have hurt us, harmed us, or transgressed. The etymology of mercy is surprising (I did a recent post on this). It actually comes from Latin ""merc""—it’s about exchange. As Cynthia bourgeault explain, ""In this great electromagnetic field of love, everything—from the tiniest electrons to the great three persons of the Trinity—is endlessly exchanging, giving and receiving of itself in that riot of self-communication that, in fact, constitutes the very dynamism of love."" I love this idea—mercy as a synonym for love—and something that we can give and receive freely and yet has great, marked value." #forgiveness #mercy