To Stay

It takes  boldness to stay. 

To stay at the foot of the cross and watch and wait..

To stay when the forces of deceit and darkness work against you.

We cannot all stay.  We do not all have it in us to do so.  

Sometimes, leaving is the only way we survive. 

It does not make us less than beloved. 

Jesus loves the disciples who flee and lock themselves in a room.  

But the women stay.  

At the foot of the cross.  

They looked after him in life. 

They look upon him in death. 

There were some women watching from a distance.  Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary who was the mother of James the younger and Josef, and Salome.  These used to follow him and look after him while he was in Galilee.  And many other women were there who had come up to Jerusalem with him.  (Mark 15: 40-41)