A Beautiful Paradox

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Happy Wednesday, Everyone. 😊 As I said on Monday, in my heart this is one of the beautiful paradoxes of the Christian faith.

In our sorrow and suffering in this life, we still can rejoice in the love and grace and mercy that are ours through Jesus Christ. I remember when my Dad died – it was December 20 – and everyone thought that would make it especially hard. As we were on our way home from the skilled care facility, we stopped to tell our neighbor. All he could talk about was how awful it was that Dad had died during the holiday season. I ended up comforting him, telling him that while I felt great sorrow, I also felt great joy because Dad was going to celebrate Jesus’ birthday in Heaven. I also knew I would see him again when it’s my turn. Joy and sorrow are probably two of the most intense emotions we feel as humans, and, yes, they can exist in the same circumstance. Paul certainly had that right! 😊

 I don’t know about you, but I have had times in my life when I wasn’t sure if there would be food on the table or enough money to pay the mortgage or rent. Those were difficult times, especially when I was a single mom raising a beautiful daughter. But …, it was still possible for me to share the Love of God with others. That treasure is the best and greatest treasure we have and sharing it with others provides us with an opportunity to feel like we can bless others even when we don’t have the material belongings to do so physically. The riches that we provide as we shine the light of Jesus to the world are priceless.

In the same vein, we may look like we don’t have anything when viewed from a worldly perspective. We may not drive the newest and best car or live in the biggest and best house or have millions in our bank account. But we have treasure whose worth exceeds anything we could ever accumulate materially.

That treasure is Jesus. He is worth more than all the money in the world and then some. With Jesus, we have eternal life in a place that is amazing and beautiful. He tells us to lay up stores in heaven and not on earth, as those are the things that will last into eternity. 

This paradox is one that I will never fully understand. But I sure do embrace it as I travel my life journey attempting to reflect the Love of Jesus in all that I say and do. It is a paradox that allows me to rejoice in suffering and sorrow, give when I have little, and feel like the richest person in the world when my material possessions don’t reflect that.

Praying we all embrace this great mystery of faith – the paradox that we experience every day of our lives on our adventure with Jesus.

Blessings and Love, 😊 Ceri