Bryan Stevenson

is not something you can say, I've got a relationship and now you're done.

It requires nurturing.

It requires give and take.

It requires questioning.

It requires checking in.

I mean, injustice is in many ways the same way.

We have to constantly be thinking about, was that just?

Was that right?

Is this the best we can do?

Is there something that's fairer?

Is there something that's going to lead to a better outcome than what we've done?

You know, I think for me, for a long time, when someone did something remarkable to express their sorrow and regret, I used to think that's when they deserve mercy.

And that's when we should perhaps give them a second chance because they're demonstrating so much remorse and regret.

What I now believe is that mercy isn't something that is dependent on what someone else does.

I think it's dependent on who we are.

I think we should give it to people, even when we're not seeing the regret and remorse that we'd like to see.

It's a way of moving through the world.

And to want mercy when we make mistakes, I believe, requires us to give mercy when other people make mistakes.

It doesn't mean that you don't demand respect and accountability when people do bad things.

It doesn't mean that you let people walk all over you.