Rolla Presbyterian Manor
Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness By Allen Teal, Chaplain MARCH 2021
Retired librarian enjoyed passing on her love for reading Dawna Womack inspired a new generation of readers as a librarian at Mark Twain Elementary School in Rolla.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7, NIV). The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
—William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice
“I enjoyed reading as a child, and I always tried to find ways to help other kids share that same love for reading as I had,” she said. Her success stories are the children who developed an affection for literature on their visits to her library. “Getting kids interested in reading was my favorite part of the job,” she said. Dawna, who is a resident of Rolla Presbyterian Manor’s Tranquility House, is originally from Dawna Womack Cassville, Mo., near the southwest corner of the state. She studied at Drury University and the University of Colorado. For the first part of her career, she taught business education. After she and her husband welcomed their first child, the couple agreed that Dawna would work at home and raise their family until their children were school aged. But when she was ready to return to the classroom, there were no openings for bookkeeping and typing teachers. “They were offering librarian positions, so I decided to do that instead,” she said. It proved to be a fortuitous career move for Dawna, who found nothing to dislike about working in the library. Dawna joined the Presbyterian Manor community 13 years ago. Her lifelong love of reading endures, and she still enjoys immersing herself in fiction and mysteries. Every day, Dawna reads from her personal library in her room in Tranquility House. u
Grace, mercy, and forgiveness are different aspects of the same idea. All imply the need for judgement while demonstrating a reduction in the penalty. The Bible interweaves these concepts to build a cohesive plan of salvation. As Christians, we need to receive grace, mercy, and forgiveness, and we must have the willingness to grant them to others. Grace Wrong actions deserve a penalty. Grace manifests itself when the penalty is suspended, but not eliminated. Compare this to someone who receives a second chance: It brings an opportunity to improve behavior. The errors have moved to a holding area for future evaluation. You may receive a grace period to repay a debt, but the debt remains owed until paid. Spiritually, when God allows people to sin without repenting, he extends them grace. Grace is Chaplain – continued on page 2
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