Last night I was suffering in great pain when I wrote about being a single parent and the pain of the other woman. By the time I finished, it was about 1:00 in the morning, and I was too tired to add a photo. This morning I reread what I’d written, cringing in some spots and struggling to decide how much is needed for honesty without posting too much, I left it the same as it had been minus a few typos and started to search for photos of suffering.
The first photo that opened for me was the one above, Jesus Christ hanging on the cross. Yep, I’d say that’s suffering. I felt shame wash over me. How selfish have I been?
Jesus Christ does know the suffering I am going through. He knows the suffering my children are are going through. He is suffering too…for my ex, for his girlfriend, for me, and for the children. For the wrongs we have done and the pain involved in breaking the Lord’s Commandments. We are all Jesus’ brothers and sisters and if what my ex and his girlfriend are doing hurts me, I can only imagine how badly it hurts Jesus Christ who died for them and the Father who made them.
On the other hand, how am I contributing to the suffering of Jesus Christ and the Father by being angry, by being bitter, and by not rejoicing in the joy and gifts I have been given? I try not to have many negative moments like this, but they do occur.
All I can do is promise not to wallow in them. Today is the first day of the rest of my life, an expression I didn’t fully comprehend until my eyes were opened by divorce. Listen to the words of Hold Us Together by Matt Maher and find hope.
Lord Jesus Christ, please forgive me and thank you for this new day. Amen.
God Bless…
photo credit _________________________________________________________________________________