GIRLFRIENDS AT THE TOMB

It had been a long day, so when I drove up to the house I was eager to rush inside and attack my to-do list. My sweet neighbor was hunched over in her front yard picking weeds. I hadn’t seen her for a few weeks since her husband of nearly sixty years died, so it was good to see her outside.  Though I was looking for an opportunity to catchup, now wasn’t a good time. 

Too many things on my “to-do list.” 

I inched my car forward and was tempted to sneak in the back door, so she wouldn’t see me in the driveway.  I had a deadline to meet.  

But thank the LORD, I didn’t. Looking back, I’m sure it was the LORD giving me a much-needed nudge.

“I can make this quick,” I thought. “I’ll run inside the house, pick up a gift that I’ve had waiting near the front door, give her a hug and get back to work.”

Well, you know the old saying. “Man plans and God laughs.” 

She invited me in for just a minute. I sat down at her kitchen table like I’ve done a million times before. Chairs covered with blankets, an old coffee pot sitting on the kitchen counter and the TV blaring which she often keeps on throughout the day. 

She reached over and turned off the television, sat across the table and asked me about my family. Just like her, to ask about my family. 

“How are you?” she said. “How are your kids? Your grandkids? Is everyone doing, okay?”

We talked about raising children, the troubles of the world, and then talked about the tears that still come. She was finding it difficult to get back into church. This was something she and Raymond always did together. How could she sit in the choir loft and look over the congregation and not see his face? He always sat in the first or second pew right in front of her, but he would not be there. Instead, there would be strange face and not the face she loved!!

“No, it’s much easier to stay home,” she said. “Surely, everyone would understand.” 

Then looking across the kitchen table, she smiled. “I got so comfortable in my Sunday morning pjs, drinking coffee and watching church on TV. I was sure God would understand.” 

But the same God who was nudging me, was nudging her. 

“It took a few Sundays,” she said, “but I gave in. It’s been hard…but it is getting easier.” 

Two women. Two neighbors…sharing the joys, the heartaches, and lessons of life. 

I thought of the women who followed Jesus. What joys and heartaches did they share? What miracles did they see? What kind of conversations happened around the campfires? When their hearts broke and their worlds came crashing down, how did they encourage one another? What was it like that Sunday morning when they came to the tomb, expecting to anoint a crucified and broken body, but instead saw an angel whose appearance was like lightening, and clothing as white as snow. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen.” They went from one extreme to another. Did they whoop and holler like girlfriends do, on their way to tell the disciples?

How often do you think they spoke of that day?!

Girlfriend. We are still here for each other. We who have walked with God have seen His works. We have witnessed His faithfulness and God-moments in our lives. We have tasted His goodness, are confident of His love and know He works “all things work together for good.” And when our hopes and dreams come crashing down, like the women at the tomb we remind each other of what we have seen and heard. 

“He is not here, He is risen.”  We serve a RISEN CHRIST!!!