The True Definition

mer·cy

noun; compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.

This is the dictionary definition of mercy, and quite frankly, a wrong one. It states that mercy is shown by someone who has the ability to harm; that it's shown by an individual with power and therefore the one whom mercy is shown to has been granted "a great favor." However, this shines a bad light on a word with an otherwise good connotation. The truth is that mercy isn't something that should be seen as a last resort and a way to receive praising words from others. If you desire to be a merciful person then you must first check your intentions, making sure that your action was committed out of pure compassion. Mercy isn't a justice-centered concept; it's doing a good deed willingly to relieve others of pain.