(As the Peony Pedals fell from above my mother’s framed face,
I knew she was enjoying her favorite flower.)

“Mercy and truth are met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
—Psalm 85:10

“Truth sprouts from the earth, And righteousness looks down from heaven.
Indeed, the LORD will give what is good, And our land will yield its produce.”
—Psalm 85:11-12)

“ You can achieve more in this world through acts of mercy
than you will through acts of retribution.” — Nelson Mandela.