Long before Jesus, God introduced Godself as merciful.  We may be used to thinking this mercy is just for humans, but it has always been for all of Creation.  So, Jesus takes away anxiety with sparrows, grasses and mother hens.  The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep and finds them when they have wandered astray.  Forgiveness, a constant food source and healing with mud and water baths – all of it is offered to us all the time.  God consistently goes beyond our parameters with generous mercy, so the “us” is always surprising.