Today's Devotional

 

 April 3, 2009

                                                                                                                 

Subject:  Just Cry With Them 

Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."

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There had been much euphoria in the Charleston household for the past week.  Everyone was excited at the arrival of the new bunnies.  Our rabbits had just produced four new offspring and they were totally adored by all.  Much care had been taken in feeding and treating them like the small, helpless creatures that they were.  

Last evening, after returning from bible study, it all turned to sorrow as the smallest of the bunnies passed away.  My oldest daughter ran up to check the bunnies and saw his small, frail, lifeless body and I, while still in the car, could hear her crying over the death of the bunny that had come to be known as McCloud.  My second daughter then went up to view it all and tears began to stream down her face.  After I performed a burial for McCloud, my second daughter then begin to cry uncontrollably and didn't stop until we finally said our bedtime prayers.  My wife was also feeling it and said, "we don't want any more animals."  She didn't want to have to deal with the loss.

Even though I have a pretty simple, the-Lord-giveth-and-the-Lord-taketh-away attitude, I was really feeling sorry for the hurt of all my family.  It saddened me to see their grief and I just wanted to weep with them.  I finally just held my youngest daughter very closely and explained that this is the essence of life; to love, to care for and also to lose.

When the bible records Jesus weeping, I think it is only because of the hurt that He saw others feeling.  He knew that He was life and could restore life and still He wept.  Today you may feel strong and hard and even have my attitude about loss, but that shouldn't prevent you from weeping with them that weep.                     

Carlen