And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. ~Genesis 23:2
It is interesting that He gave me this scripture as I have also been studying mourning of late. I suppose I am mourning for my Sarah, as Abraham is.
In this dawn He also made me know that, as was spoken to in the Job birthday post, He makes His chosen ones to suffer greatly here on earth. In fact, it is as if those who suffer most are marked by Him as His.
I have heard priests remark that we might never understand why bad people get good things here on earth, but in light of these scriptures we can see that suffering here is a necessary process to enter His final kingdom. It might be part of that refining by fire that we are taught throughout scripture. Or separating the wheat from the chaff. To be burned with fire hurts more than anything on earth. To separate wheat from chaff, it is basically rhythmically beaten against something hard, so that the wheat heads fall into a pile for storage, and the chaff blows away on the wind~
I am convinced by these verses that those of us who suffer, as Jesus speaks to in the Beatitudes, are the very ones who can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Another reason I have been drawn to alcoholics, the oppressed, and those scarred by life. They are fellow brethren whom I recognize in spirit.
I love you with all my heart, soul, and might, My LORD.
~s
~Song of Mary~ 