She wept.

"if this man were a prophet he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--she is a sinner." Luke 7:39 (NIV)

I have always found some kind of comfort in the story of the woman who washed Jesus's feet with her tears. Not because of the way it portrays her servitude or even how it points out the attitudes of others. No it really stands out to me because I am that woman. I have been poor, outcasted and scorned. I have found myself desperate for peace, love and to be saved from my pain. And having found that she gives all she has for it. She lays it all out to obtain it. She knows what others have said about her. She is a prostitute, a whore, a nobody so who would love her. All her shame she leaves at his feet in her tears, all her heart she pours out over his feet, and with all she has left she wipes away the shame and fears she laid there. She is safe. She has found one who takes her as she is and loves her despite what she believes she is.

I think belief has a powerful hold. If I believe that I am nothing more than the negative then I find no hope in my life outside of it. If I believe only the positive then I live a life void of truth. When I accept the good and the bad... when I seek out the one who sees both the good and bad of my life, then I am living a full life. Scars may make someone else say "she is ugly, broken, used" but to him I am beautiful, special and loved.

This may sound like alot of misguided words to some. Maybe you have only found bitterness and scorn in your day. Unfortunately, as people we don't always see how our actions affect others. I know I certainly don't. I don't pretend to have all the answers either. I am a complete mess. But my heart longs and sees the hope in laying it all at God's metaphoric feet. He has never left me or forsake me though others and their choices have. I don't mean to talk alot of blah blah blahs here. I hope you can really see my heart. If you've been broken or hurting its hard to lay it down. Or at least for me I know it can be. I invite you to come cry your tears with me. And then after the tears I hope we can then share the joy that finds us after.

Sweet Dreams!