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)
