Stations of The Cross: Observing a Mother's Grief

Until this week, I had never witnessed the devastation of a fellow young mother having to bury her small child.

This type of grief is new territory, for me.

I tentatively entered into Lent with a wild faith that refused to deny the goodness of my God. I held Him tight and trusted that when I leaned into fasting and prayer, He would meet me and see me through.

I believed Him for a deeper revelation of His love and goodness.

I trusted Him for a greater knowledge of His power and glory.

I couldn’t have known the type of grief I would encounter on this Lenten journey, but it has reared its head and done its worst.

Yet, I am here to testify to the everlasting goodness of God that does not ebb and flow like the sorrows of this life. It is greater than any grief.

I had the honor of walking our local convent’s Stations of the Cross today with my best friend Allison (@marriedandahouse). Just twenty-four hours before, we received the shattering news that our friend Alison (@alisonpropps) watched her four-year-old son slip into eternity. The news was fresh on my mind and heavy on my heart. The tears were still coming in hot-water-waves that burned my eyes and blurred my vision. The grief swallows like a stone. Again, and again. It’s cold, heavy, jagged. It squeezes down your throat, threatens to choke you, then lands with an unwelcome thud, but not before it cuts you on the way down.

With this news on our minds, we entered into our prayer walk with fresh eyes for the suffering of Mary. As she journeyed to the cross with her Son, so we journeyed too. Her maternal grief, more tangible to us than ever before as we held our sweet friend Alison close to our hearts.

With Abundance Of Grace Print's "Stations of the Cross" cards in gloved hands, we pushed double strollers full of bundled-up babies along the path to each depiction of Jesus passion.

Our kids delighted to run ahead and discover the next piece of artwork to observe. This is an experience that transcends language or age. Anyone can look upon the depictions and be moved. All the marvelous little details of the story may not be apparent at a glance but the overall story is obvious even to the passing viewer. It was so precious to see our kids look upon the wounds of Jesus with compassionate, inquisitive eyes. It opened the door to many formative conversations.

I feel profoundly reoriented, as I stand in the tension between joy and sorrow. (More on that here.)

As I stand in the gap between suffering and jubilee, I am eager for Easter in a way I never have been!

I am desperate for the whole world to experience the life-changing power and kindness of God.

His love reframes everything and provided purpose to otherwise hopeless devastation.

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?

…Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”

(1 Corinthians 15:55, 57)