
The heart in this tile is turned up and receptive to the women on Jesus’ journey, and it bears the dust of the life he had lived.
Station 8 – Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
I had to be there. It seemed unusually hot and dusty.
Maybe it was the pain and the anger I felt
around me and inside.
I brought my children.
There was no one to watch out for them.
Everyone was at the crucifixion spectacle,
and my children had seen violence from soldiers before.
With me at least, they could hold my hands
and I could comfort them against his pain.
I thought, “They are safe with me.”
Can I keep them safe in a world like this?
I remember what he said,
“Do not weep for me, but for yourselves
and for your children.” He loved us–
it was obvious from the first time we met him
when he played with the children
and listened to them and to me.
Now with all his suffering
we could see that his love for us
could not be washed away by pain–
though perhaps his deep regard
for us and for our children,
helped bring him to this road.
We didn’t stay long.
If I cannot keep the children safe at least I could
bring them home and comfort their hearts,
listen to them as Jesus did.
Maybe someday It will be enough.
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