Writer's Wednesday -- Julian of Norwich

Mercy is a compassionate quality. It belongs to motherhood in tender love. Grace is worthy of praise, too, because it is a quality that belongs to God's magnificent power in that same love. Mercy protects, endures, energizes, and heals, and is every tenderness of love. Grace is mercy's helper. It raises, rewards, and always exceeds what our love and labor deserve.

Grace is evident of God's amazing abundance, and we see through it that this divine generosity emanates from God's kingly authority and wonderful kindnesses. Grace comes from this abundance of love and transforms our horrible mistakes into abundant, unending consolation. Grace alters our shameful falling into a high, honorable rising, and grace transforms our sorrowful dying into holy, joyful living.

---Julian of Norwich, (1342-1420), Revelations