Lenten Thoughts - Your Reward for Suffering

What2Say2Day? Today's Lenten Passage is from Matthew 5:10-12.

 ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

This passage comes from The Sermon on the Mount. It's the beginning section of the sermon better known as The Beatitudes. I've always liked The Beatitudes because they remind me that not all rewards go to the rich and famous. In fact Jesus reminds us that in most, if not all cases the best rewards go to those who suffer.

This passage is especially meaningful to me because it also reminds me that I'm not the first to have gone through the pains of life. Loneliness, loss of loved ones, divorce, abandonment by those I thought would love me forever, false friends, and everything else that brings the thoughts of "why bother" have been a part of my life as much as it's been a part of yours and others. We are not the first to go through these trials, nor will we be the last.

What may be different is how people get to the other side of the pain, if they get to the other side. Many life events don't let us keep moving forward, such as the death of someone so close you feel as though a part of your heart went with them. And there's no words or actions or theories that can help you get through it any easier. All we can do is remember that Jesus reminds us we are not alone, nor will we ever be alone. In fact, those whom we consider to be the greatest influences in our life have also felt the same pain we do. And do we not admire them for the strength in the face of diversity they taught us?

That's today's thought; remember that no matter how much it hurts we will eventually come through the pain. Remember too that you are not alone; never have been, never will be. And when you do finally get through the suffering remember too that God is waiting there to hold you with a hug filled with the most intense joy-filled love you'll ever experience.