“Don’t laugh at the spinsters, dear girls, for often very tender, tragic romances are hidden away in the hearts that beat so quietly under the sober gowns, and many silent sacrifices of youth, health, ambition, love itself, make the faded faces beautiful in God’s sight. Even the sad, sour sisters should be kindly dealt with, because they have missed the sweetest part of life, if for no other reason.” ~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
~~~
Oh Jesus, help us to not become hardened by life.
By disappointment. By loss & grief.
Help to stay soft & sweet & pliable in Your capable & loving hands.
Help us to draw near to You when all we really want to do is retreat inward. Into our pit that we have so carefully furnished & decorated & made to feel like home.
Help us to leave it behind, and everything in it – because nothing there gives life. Not like You Lord. No, not like You.
Help us to stop sneering & judging & laughing at those who are different than us. As though we have arrived somehow.
God forgive us.
Help us to know we are all precious in Your sight.
Even the sour & the saddened ~
The invisible & forgotten ones ~
The rejected, the looked over & the lost.
Life is hard on every soul at some point.
Help us all to remember that.
Your gifts follow us every day Lord.
Help us to see them & not pass them by.
Help us to pull back the veils on our sisters & brothers who refuse to see Your blessings, so blinded by disappointment they no longer believe they are there.
Oh Lord we cry out to You – You are our only true Hope!
We are Your hands and feet Father ~
Your tears & Your compassion.
Help us to be that.
For each-other.
We praise You above it all,
in Jesus Wonderful name,
Amen
Much love y’all – all around,
Bonnie
(image found on pinterest)