I read this story from a post on LinkedIn written by Hiram Figueroa Jr. It’s a love story – and it will truly touch your heart.
pain | Deacon Allen Tatara Catholic Speaker
On the Inside; On the Outside
When you were growing up as a child, what was your go-to object when you needed comfort, safety, or security? Was it a snuggly blanket, a pillow, a doll, or a stuffed animal? For me, it was my stuffed Winnie the Pooh. He may be small in stature, but to me, he was a giant. His protective presence was always felt, and he never failed to make me feel safe. When powerful storms bombarded the night-time sky, he was always there for me to grab on tightly and hold close. I always felt comforted when Pooh was there.
There’s something very special that happens when we are being held, especially by a loved one – like a spouse, parent, or friend. There is this intense connection that permeates any negative emotions that we are experiencing – and almost instantaneously, these vanish from existence. There is an unspoken power in that embracing hug that tells us that everything is going to be alright. In that very moment, we feel loved, appreciated, and worthy, and we feel as if we can overcome anything that comes our way.
This is what we experience when our Lord holds onto us. When we are filled with fear because we cannot see the road ahead of us or where we are going, Jesus tells us that everything is going to be just fine and points us in the right direction. When we have doubts about our abilities or talents, Jesus tells us that we already have everything that we need for our mission. When we feel like we’re carrying all of the world’s burdens on our shoulders, Jesus is there to take the load from us. When we hit rock bottom and when life seems to keep handing us insurmountable hills to climb, Jesus is there to give us a hand and help us up.
Anytime we experience pain, struggles or setbacks in our lives, we need to remember that Jesus is right there with us, giving us the biggest bear-hug ever. Our loving Father is always there to wrap his arms around us, brush off any remnants of our worries, fears, concerns, or anxieties, and simply hold onto us – and he will never, ever let go!
May God’s loving embrace strengthen us during our times of weakness, and may his powerful words always be with us when he says: “Fear not, I am with you. I will strengthen you and help you.”
I’m a disciple of Jesus and I’ll tell you my view,
Of the events that took place, the events that are true.
These past few days were filled with such grief.
My heart’s filled with pain, denial, disbelief.
We had just shared a meal, of bread and wine alike,
When he said someone will betray him; it will happen tonight.
The mood suddenly changed, and Jesus felt distraught.
Something felt different; something was off.
The hour was approaching, it was happening at last.
He prayed in the garden that this cup of his should pass.
But it wasn’t about him, but about his Father’s plan.
We awoke to find out that his betrayer was at hand.
Jesus is gone, it’s so hard to conceive.
Yesterday was so painful, I still can’t believe.
It all happened so quickly, from dawn to mid-day.
To see how he suffered as he walked along the way.
He carried his cross, three times falling and stumbling,
But he carried it for us; never griping, never grumbling.
The people spit and they jeered as he passed along by.
They cursed and they shouted, “Let Jesus be crucified!”
They nailed him to a tree and hung him high in the air.
With a crown full of thorns, it just wasn’t fair.
In suffering he prayed, for all – not just a few,
“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
He took his last breath and passed from this life,
I cried and I cried; I was filled with such strife.
His body was taken down and laid in a tomb.
A guard was at the entrance for fear of the Jews.
As I stand here and gaze at the stone-cold tomb
With tears in my eyes and my heart full of gloom.
I know that he told us that he would rise from the dead,
Yet I feel so helpless, confused, and mislead.
Jesus is dead, and what a beating he took.
The whippings, the scourging, the nails on the wood.
So how can he rise and come out of this rock?
Why am I doubting? I really must stop.
Though darkness surrounds me, in Jesus I do trust.
I believe what he told us, and believe, this I must.
He will overcome the grave; for this I am sure.
Because he loved me that much; for me, he endured.
Now I wait in anticipation for the miracle to arise,
To see his radiant glory before my very own eyes.
Jesus changed the world and our sin he set free.
He died out of love, and he did it all for me.
As you may know, St. Francis started a religious order after his conversion. He and his brothers, known as the Lesser Brothers, lived a life of poverty and the brothers had to go out into the streets to beg for their daily bread. Francis insisted that the Rule of the Lesser Brothers was to live the rigor of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now the brothers began to complain about their suffering. Francis understood their pain, but he could not understand why they should utter that pain so loudly. That wasn’t the case with Brother Giles.
Brother Giles was all about cheerfulness. He always welcomed humiliation and misunderstanding and rejoiced in it. How totally selfless one must be to remain cheerful.
Brother Giles put that wisdom into words, and these are the words that Francis enjoyed and kept close to his heart:
- Blessed are you who love and don’t expect to be loved in return.
- Blessed are you who fear and don’t want to be feared.
- Blessed are you who serve and don’t expect to be served in return.
- Blessed are you who treat others well and don’t expect like treatment in return.
Then Brother Giles stated that if you possess these three qualities, you cannot be evil:
- If, for God’s sake, you bear in peace all tribulation that comes you way.
- If you humble yourself in everything you do and receive.
- If you love faithfully those things that cannot be seen with fleshly eyes.
It’s holy contrition, holy humility, holy charity, holy devotion, and holy joy that makes one holy and good.
That is the secret of living a Christian life, and that is how we will bring the Kingdom of God to our present world.
Based on the book, “Francis: The Journey and the Dream” by Murray Bodo
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