Comfort foods for the soul (12): Relief

Often in life, our behaviours and efforts attract criticism.

It shouldn’t be done!

It’s useless!

What a waste!

Such misplaced priorities!

Comments like these zap the soul out of the most perseverant person.

There are plenty of these critics around us.

Their primary goal in life is to deconstruct.

You and I both have seen enough of them.

Really, too many.

If we were strong-willed, or the objective is so magnetic, we might, with difficulty, ignore them.

But still our hearts and souls might have been severely aching.

We long for some positive, appreciative comments that serve as ammunitions for us to keep firing!

Unfortunately these positive people are rarely around.

And when we are so alone, facing negative people, it’s so very difficult, sometimes painful.

There was once a woman, nameless in the record, taking abuses from these naysayers.

Taking and taking.

But she kept at what she was doing.

Pouring an expensive and aromatic ointment over someone.

While scorns were being poured on her from people around

Jesus is anointed by Mary Magdalene. XIX century engraving (AnonymousUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

“Leave her alone!”

“Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.”

(Mark 14:6, NIV)

Her positive comments finally came.

From none other than Jesus.

The person on which her expensive ointment was for.

The only audience she really cared about.

What a relief!

He defended her.

He appreciated her.

He praised her.

All these showed He understood her.

That’s really what’s needed for her to go on living her life, amidst all negativity and criticisms.

That’s really what’s needed every one of us needs too.

He understands.

Relief to the soul.