October 11
But they did not believe the women, because their words to
them seemed like nonsense. Luke 24:11
She came running into the house, the door slamming behind her, calling my name and shouting words so rapidly that they were incomprehensible; stopping me in my tracks with shaking head, wondering what she could possibly be talking about! My young teenaged daughter had just come home from her best friend’s house. Just after dinner, her friend’s father suffered a heart attack and passed away suddenly! “How could this be, Mom?” “Where is he now?” She kept asking over and over! “He was just talking with my friend and I!” My daughter was emotionally shaken, fearful and spent from the ordeal, and she immediately ran home to those she loved and trusted, who could give her the comfort, understanding, love and direction she was desperately in need of. She wanted some sense to be made of this tragedy; she wanted reassurance that everything would be o.k. and she wanted to help her grief-stricken friend in some way, but felt completely helpless and confused.
The events of the funeral played out over the next few days. With us by her side, my daughter learned a lot about life, loss and friendship; about giving of oneself despite the complexities in doing so at times like this – about grief. Her understanding of those she could rely on and trust was reinforced; enabling her in the days ahead to share her inmost thoughts, ideas, hopes and fears, not only about this most difficult situation, but also in others that came her way.
Can’t you just imagine this scene from Scripture as these women, who knew and loved Jesus and each other so deeply, running to their companions and shouting their words of disbelief and awe over what they had just encountered? Can you imagine the Apostles’ bewilderment and doubt when they heard what the women had to say about Jesus’ tomb being empty? How could this be? This was impossible! Peter immediately took it upon himself to validate what the women were babbling about. And there he was, seeing for himself what their words described, yet questioning this astonishing situation! Where could Jesus be?
When life’s events happen to you, who do you run to? To whom do you share with the most important moments of your life? We are blessed when we have someone in our lives to confide in, someone who knows us and can give us the empathy and direction we need at that moment, someone who loves us unconditionally. We are blessed to have a loved one or friend whose arms can give us the comfort we need. But more importantly, God is always there for us to give us all we need. Turn to him; trust in his unconditional love and understanding. Don’t look into an empty tomb.
Lord, when life’s events overwhelm us and we babble on in our questioning, confused state, thank you for being with us, for comforting us and holding us close to your heart so we can make some sense out of any situation.
Copyright© 2011 Kathleen A. Matson
But they did not believe the women, because their words to
them seemed like nonsense. Luke 24:11
She came running into the house, the door slamming behind her, calling my name and shouting words so rapidly that they were incomprehensible; stopping me in my tracks with shaking head, wondering what she could possibly be talking about! My young teenaged daughter had just come home from her best friend’s house. Just after dinner, her friend’s father suffered a heart attack and passed away suddenly! “How could this be, Mom?” “Where is he now?” She kept asking over and over! “He was just talking with my friend and I!” My daughter was emotionally shaken, fearful and spent from the ordeal, and she immediately ran home to those she loved and trusted, who could give her the comfort, understanding, love and direction she was desperately in need of. She wanted some sense to be made of this tragedy; she wanted reassurance that everything would be o.k. and she wanted to help her grief-stricken friend in some way, but felt completely helpless and confused.
The events of the funeral played out over the next few days. With us by her side, my daughter learned a lot about life, loss and friendship; about giving of oneself despite the complexities in doing so at times like this – about grief. Her understanding of those she could rely on and trust was reinforced; enabling her in the days ahead to share her inmost thoughts, ideas, hopes and fears, not only about this most difficult situation, but also in others that came her way.
Can’t you just imagine this scene from Scripture as these women, who knew and loved Jesus and each other so deeply, running to their companions and shouting their words of disbelief and awe over what they had just encountered? Can you imagine the Apostles’ bewilderment and doubt when they heard what the women had to say about Jesus’ tomb being empty? How could this be? This was impossible! Peter immediately took it upon himself to validate what the women were babbling about. And there he was, seeing for himself what their words described, yet questioning this astonishing situation! Where could Jesus be?
When life’s events happen to you, who do you run to? To whom do you share with the most important moments of your life? We are blessed when we have someone in our lives to confide in, someone who knows us and can give us the empathy and direction we need at that moment, someone who loves us unconditionally. We are blessed to have a loved one or friend whose arms can give us the comfort we need. But more importantly, God is always there for us to give us all we need. Turn to him; trust in his unconditional love and understanding. Don’t look into an empty tomb.
Lord, when life’s events overwhelm us and we babble on in our questioning, confused state, thank you for being with us, for comforting us and holding us close to your heart so we can make some sense out of any situation.
Copyright© 2011 Kathleen A. Matson