I finally got around to the season 8 finale of The Walking Dead. It was every bit as good as advertised, as that all-out war between the Saviors and Rick’s Gang finally came to an end.

The payoff was worth it. It even made the last two seasons better.

But one line hit me in the gut. In a good way.

I’ll try not to give anything away, but just in case . . . spoiler alert.

Near the end, Rick has the chance to end someone’s life (and could easily be seen as justified in doing so), but chooses to spare said person’s life.

He says, “My mercy prevailed over my wrath.”

I love it when that happens.

I love it when forgiveness wins over bitterness, when enemies become friends, when understanding and  dialogue win the day.

I still love the Hebrew word hesed. As I heard it explained again today, the word is essentially untranslatable, but could be rendered as “when the person who I have no right to expect anything from gives me everything.”

Mercy triumphs over judgment.

I’m thankful that God’s mercy triumphed over the wrath that my sins deserved. I’m thankful that grace is a daily gift that allows me to wake up every morning.

I’m hoping always to be a man of mercy and grace whenever possible because I’ve benefitted from and been transformed by both.