FORGOTTEN TENDERNESS
But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me;my Lord has forgotten me."Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you. - Isaiah 49:15
I find it so easy nowadays to slip into the mentality expressed in Isaiah today. From news headlines to social media to everyday family, friendship, and workplace tensions, there always seem to be opportunities to say, “Woe is me.” Feeling like a victim has become normalized when there is always a group, person, or circumstance to be angry or sad about, and wondering where God is in the midst of it all.
Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to catch up with some good friends that I had not seen in some time. In the midst of long overdue meals and walks, I expressed pains and angers that I’ve still struggled to come to terms with over the past few years. I found myself talking mainly about how I felt slighted by continual comments I’ve heard from others who used to be close. In those moments of more honest sharing, I realized two things: 1. Why was I attaching so much meaning to those comments and 2. What pains were other people carrying, that I wasn’t aware of, that might lead to those types of comments and actions to begin with? In a simple moment, my anger was transformed into an invitation toward compassion. This was not a new lesson for me, and yet I was not able to recognize it again until I was able to share deeply and in a courageous, loving space among friends again.
Isolation then made way for genuine connection again, through the space of loving, healthy relationships and community, and a new healed perspective began to unfold. Jesus reminds me of the power of this in today’s Gospel as well, as Jesus remains intimately connected to the Father and His will. We just celebrated Lautere Sunday this past Sunday as well - a time of rejoicing in the midst of Lent - and it becomes yet another reminder of the hope and joy of God’s promises through it all.
What pain points continue to fester for me in my life right now? What might be the invitation for perhaps a different perspective, and deeper healing? Jesus, please help me to trust in your tenderness to find my way to a deeper joy in You and one another.
Quyen Ngo