Stones

     The past few years for my family have not been easy.  Let me just make a list and explain to you what the past few years have been like.

August 2010- My brain tumor discovered and first surgery followed by radiation

January 2011- My second surgery

August 2012- Dad diagnosed with lung cancer

November 2012- Dad's lung surgery followed by chemo and radiation

December 2013- Aunt diagnosed with ovarian cancer

September 2013- Dad's cancer returns- inoperable- Chemo and radiation begin again

March 2013- Aunt diagnosed with breast cancer

 

     As a woman of God, I found myself asking God over and over, "What are you doing to my family, Lord?  Why us, Lord?"  I found myself wondering why he would let this happen to me and my family.  I try so hard every day to serve Him and to live a life pleasing to Him. I felt like I didn't deserve the hardships that were falling on my family.  Then, I read this Sunday's gospel about the woman accused of adultery.  People were lined up around her ready to stone her to death for her crime.  But Jesus had other plans.

 

"Let the one without sin cast the first stone."

 

     Jesus didn't ask the woman if she committed adultery.  He didn't ask her to list the things she had done for Him or the things that she failed to do.  He didn't ask the people ready to throw their stones to list how they had served Him or failed to serve Him either.  In one simple statement He reminded us that we are the same....."We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."  (Romans 3:23.)  The woman was a sinner, yet so were the ones casting the stone.  God looks at all of us as his Children.  Children who have made mistakes, but children that He will continue to love regardless of those mistakes. 

 

    Today's gospel opened my eyes to a different way of thinking.   I have been asking "Why me, Lord?" but I guess I should be asking, "Why not me, Lord?"  I too am a sinner.  I do not deserve the goodness that God gives me on a daily basis.  The "stones" of life are going to come my way, but I must trust that my God has a plan.  In Proverbs 3:5-6 it says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will makes your paths straight."   None of us deserve God's goodness.  We don't deserve His love, His kindness, His forgiveness or the  good that happen to us each and every day.  But just as He loved the woman, He loves us and His plan will be revealed to us in time. 

 

     So, when the stones of life come my way, I must remember that I am loved and that my God has a plan.  It is not for me to try to understand, but for me to just trust.  This isn't easy.  The stones of my life have been big boulders lately, but my God is the rock whom I build my life upon and I know that with Him.....all things are possible.

 

I trust you, Lord.