Where Jesus Went

After an unfortunate mishap involving a tiny foot and a bathroom door, we ended up at urgent care late at night. My four-year-old was shaking as the doctor examined and x-rayed his foot. It was painful, but he was also terrified. Thankfully no cast was needed and it was just a nasty purple bruise. He woke up the next morning to a still swollen but less painful foot and proudly exclaimed, “God healed me! He really did it! God healed me.” 

Over the next few days as he continued to recover physically, he would still experience significant pain, especially after playing too rough or wearing his shoes for a long period. During those times he would simply tell me, “God has gone to Africa. He told me that was where he went.” Sometimes God was out mini golfing, at an amusement park, or even on a boat at sea. One day as he lay in bed, he told me that God decided to take his kayak and try to catch people on a cruise ship. Each time, God always came back for him though. 

Instead of dwelling on his pain, my son imagined all the adventures God was having with other children. And he would tell me over and over again that God had healed him, but right now God was visiting someone else so that was why his foot hurt again. During the Easter season, the Resurrection of Jesus reminds us of that fundamental truth of our faith. No matter how much I am hurting right now, or how alone I may feel, God will always come back. 

Prayer: Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me. -St Clare of Assisi 

Daily Reading: Jn 15:18-21
”If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘Servants are not greater than their master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.