.....peas

For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13

A woman was arrested for stealing. When she went before the judge, he asked her, “What did you steal?” She replied, “A can of peaches.” The judge asked her why she had stolen them and she replied that she was hungry. The judge then asked her how many peaches were in the can. She replied, “Five.” The judge said, “Then I will give you five days in jail.”

Her husband stood up and asked the judge if he could say something. The judge said, “What is it?”

“She also stole a can of peas.” This story reminds us how easy it is to expose someone else’s faults, even in the name of “truth.” The husband may have thought he was being clever, but all he did was pile more guilt and shame on someone who was broken and needed forgiveness.

It’s a very real tendency: we often lean toward justice for others and mercy for ourselves. We want understanding for our bad days, but we’re quick to count the offenses of others — even the peas they hoped no one would notice.

But James 2:13 flips things around: “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” God doesn’t just tolerate mercy — he celebrates it. In a world eager to keep score, God calls us not to tally up wrongs or to keep adding to someone’s already heavy burden, but to live in a way that reflects his heart — full of kindness, patience, and grace.

Actions have consequences, accountability is important. But the heart of the gospel is not about keeping score — it’s about a mercy that forgives debts, heals wounds, and refuses to keep dragging up past mistakes. When someone in your life “steals a peach,” how do you respond? Do you bring up the peas too? Let’s resist the urge to make things worse and instead look for ways to make grace triumph over judgment.

Because in God’s courtroom, the final word isn’t judgment — it’s mercy.

Father, help me choose mercy over judgment. In a world quick to criticize and slow to forgive, help me to be someone who reflects your grace. Teach me to be gentle with others, even when they fall short — just as you are gentle with me. In Jesus’ name, amen.