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                                                         "Jesus 
                                                          looked at him and loved 
                                                          him." 
                                                          (Mark 10:21) 
                                                        I 
                                                          HAD FORGOTTEN 
                                                        Unduly 
                                                          stressed, overwhelmed 
                                                          by life, not sure of 
                                                          what to do I cried out 
                                                          to God. "Why Lord, 
                                                          why did you put me through 
                                                          this? I can't handle 
                                                          it an more!" 
                                                        No 
                                                          great revelation came, 
                                                          the skies didn't open 
                                                          up with a beam of light 
                                                          coming down, the radio 
                                                          didn't stop playing 
                                                          music replaced by the 
                                                          voice of God. 
                                                          I was left to wallow 
                                                          in my anger for awhile 
                                                          - I blew off a little 
                                                          steam. 
                                                        I 
                                                          think when I go through 
                                                          trials I develop tunnel 
                                                          vision, all I can see 
                                                          is our troubles. No 
                                                          one else is suffering 
                                                          as much as I am, the 
                                                          world owes me something, 
                                                          no one understands me 
                                                          and no one can or will 
                                                          help me. 
                                                        My 
                                                          thoughts drift to the 
                                                          "What would Jesus 
                                                          do?" question and 
                                                          I'm gently reminded 
                                                          that Jesus is Now - 
                                                          He's right here, never 
                                                          leaving or forsaking 
                                                          - always present and 
                                                          always loving. I had 
                                                          forgotten about His 
                                                          love. He declared and 
                                                          proclaimed His love 
                                                          for me from the cross 
                                                          - He yearns for me to 
                                                          accept His embrace - 
                                                          He desires me to receive 
                                                          His gentle touch, His 
                                                          reassuring Word, His 
                                                          overwhelming peace, 
                                                          His uncompromising faithfulness. 
                                                        No 
                                                          matter what I've done, 
                                                          no matter who I am, 
                                                          no matter my thoughts, 
                                                          Jesus loves me. I had 
                                                          forgotten - like heat 
                                                          to my icy heart Jesus 
                                                          melts away the frustration, 
                                                          the despair, the anguish, 
                                                          the pain - like salve 
                                                          to an open wound He 
                                                          offers comfort and healing 
                                                          to my broken heart. 
                                                        I 
                                                          had forgotten...have 
                                                          you?  
                                                        Rejoice 
                                                          in the Lord Always! 
                                                        Dario 
                                                          Ferko 
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