Some years back, another man and I were reading together Matthew 26
about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. “I know this much,” he told me as we
read along, “if I’d been with Jesus in Gethsemane, I’d have had His back. No
way would I have fallen asleep!” Indignant, he continued, “How could anyone
fall asleep after hearing Jesus tell them how troubled He was? He was practically
begging!” (v.38).
Knowing that our families struggled with our long work hours, I wondered
out loud to my friend: “How many times have our children looked for us in the
crowd at their school activities, hoping to see us? Do our kids face troubles
alone because we are away or busy? Our families and friends have an intense
need for personal attention from us. Even Jesus asked His disciples to watch
and pray with Him” (see vv.40-45).
It is not a simple thing to balance life’s demands against the needs of
those we love and serve, but failing to do so is emotional betrayal. As we
think about the disciples disappointing Jesus in the Garden, we might want to
consider the ways we can today show our care for our loved ones and their
interests. Help us, Lord, to love others well.
One measure of our love for God
is our sensitivity to the needs of others. (RBC)
