Just what I needed....

This is a blog entry from Diana (her blog is Letters to a(nother) Mom), and I gotta tell you, this is EXACTLY what I needed. So refreshing to be reminded of, to take a minute away from the daily routines, and just stop. and think. and be reminded of how intimately my Savior wants to know me (more like wants me to know Him). So I want to share her entry with whoever reads my blog. It was just what I needed. Maybe it's just what you need too!

From Diana's blog March 23, 2008 (Easter): (The first paragraph is quoting Scripture)

"'But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did no know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher).' John 20:11-16

I think this is one of my favorite Resurrection stories. Here we see Mary, so weak in her faith, weeping for the Lord. Desiring to be near Him, yet looking in the wrong place. She even sees angels in the tomb and yet she doesn't stop crying long enough to even try to figure out what is going on. I think it's my favorite passage, because I can relate so well. How often do I, in feeble faith, try to find God on my own strength...often with tears...I really want to find Him...I want to be near to Him, but I'm either to wrapped up in my cares or am blind to the glorious things He is doing.

But isn't God good? We serve an amazing, loving God! He didn't leave Mary in her emotional, weak, faithless, wrong state. He came to her. She desired Him and He came. And He called her by name. "Mary!" Can you see the relief on her face--the joy at His faithfulness? How she must have felt to find her teacher so patient, so steadfast, so tender? The same Jesus who washed the disciples feet also stooped to call on this emotional woman, weak in faith. And it's the same Jesus who calls me by name--so patiently, so steadfastly, so tenderly.

Dear Lord--We praise you that you are almighty God. This Easter weekend we are again reminded of how you died and conquered death. We are reminded of how powerful and awesome you are, but before we even can begin to comprehend that, you show how meek and tender you are--to stoop and call us by name, to dry our tears. You, in your power, meet us, in our weakness. Thank you for your patience when we are weak in faith, emotional and blind to what glorious things you are doing. Please open our eyes to see these mighty and great things and cause us to walk ever nearer to you. It is in your name that we pray. AMEN"

I'm so thankful for that reminder. and I think that we all crave that tenderness, that sympathy, that unconditional love. Sometimes I just forget where to look for it, or I'm too stubborn to admit I need it.