Carrying the cross
Resilience, Mary's mantle, and letting it roll
Will and I spend a lot of time sailing (it’s his job). And in the Charleston harbor, boaters will often see bottlenose dolphins drifting up in the waves, strand feeding for lunch or dinner, their fins occasionally indistinguishable from the dark, slate blue of the water.
I love watching them (who doesn’t?) from the bow of the sailboat as Will and I cut through and play in the water just like they do. It occurred to me recently that the way their smooth, blubbery skin lets the salty waves roll over their backs is a beautiful analogy for suffering in the Christian life.
The Lord doesn’t promise us easy lives or endless days without suffering—He promises us Himself, that He will be with us throughout every difficult thing, holding onto us and never letting go.
We can’t escape the cross; we have to let it glide right over our backs as Jesus carries it with us, like dolphins letting the waves glide right over them.
I like to imagine that Mary’s mantle does for us what blubber does for dolphins. When we are under her silky-smooth veil, nothing can ultimately penetrate or cut us to the core. In her and her Son’s love we are protected and held close as the waves of hardship this side of eternity roll over us.
We’re still carrying crosses that splinter our backs, but in Jesus’ sweet mercy He asks His mom to lend us her mantle to keep the splinters from going to deep, and she eagerly provides.
This is resilience: not dulling our senses from the pain with distractions and addictions that keep us temporarily subsided, but carrying the cross with Jesus, knowing that He’s already done so for us. Pressing forward, because He powers the wind in our sails. Holding on, because communion with Him in our suffering is what makes us saints.
Though your cross may be heavy and splintered all over, Mary’s mantle is covering you right now. Do you believe it?
In Him,
-Eliza
ELIZA LIKES THINGS
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I received this hat for Christmas (thank you, Will’s mom!!!) and used it as prop for a special project I shot a few weeks ago. I’m obsessed with the wide brim, and Sarah Bray Bermuda puts grommets in all of their hats to make it easy to add a ribbon to tie in a variety of styles. Natural straw! Shop it here.
This precious tennis necklace made its way to me in the mail last week, and I can’t get enough. It’s lab white sapphire, making it significantly less $$$ than mined diamond (which exploits child labor in foreign countries!!), but still so sparkly and beautiful. It’s also gold vermeil, which is the thickest gold plating over sterling silver a jewelry piece can be without being completely solid gold, but has the same functional durability as solid. A great Valentine’s gift for a fraction of the price! Find it here.
Another precious Valentine’s gift - the Holy Family hearts in their corresponding gemstone colors and iconography. This shop has other necklace, earring, and ring options featuring Mary’s Immaculate Heart, Jesus’ Sacred Heart, and Joseph’s Most Chaste Heart, available in both silver and gold! $55 on Etsy, linked here.
I’D APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYERS FOR…
Me and Will’s godson was born with great health and joy last week! We love him to pieces already and cannot wait for his baptism. Please pray for his growth in holiness, maturity, and sainthood for the rest of his sweet life to come!