In C. S. Lewis’ story The Magician’s Nephew,
Digory recalled his terminally ill mother and how his hopes were all
dying away. With a lump in his throat and tears in his eyes, he blurted
out to Aslan, the great lion who represents Christ, “Please,
please—won’t you—can’t you give me something that will cure Mother?”
Then,
in his despair, Digory looked up at Aslan’s face. “Great shining tears
stood in the Lion’s eyes. They were such big, bright tears compared
with Digory’s own that for a moment he felt as if the Lion must really
be sorrier about his Mother than he was himself. ‘My son, my son,’ said
Aslan. ‘I know. Grief is great. Only you and I in this land know that
yet. Let us be good to one another.’”
I think of Jesus’ tears at
Lazarus’ grave (John 11:35). I believe He wept for Lazarus as well as
for Mary and Martha and their grief. Later, Jesus wept over Jerusalem
(Luke 19:41-44). And He knows and shares our grief today. But as He
promised, we will see Him again in the place He’s preparing for us
(John 14:3). In heaven, our grief will end. “God will wipe away every
tear from [our] eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor
crying” (Rev. 21:4).
Until then, know that God weeps with you.
—David H. Roper
He knows our burdens and our crosses,
Those things that hurt, our trials and losses,
He cares for every soul that cries,
God wipes the tears from weeping eyes. —Brandt