"Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you." Isaiah 49:15

The Jewish people have ascended to the heights of God's blessings and descended to the depths in experiencing the curses that followed their disobedience. How often they have said, "The Lord has forgotten us." But look at God's tender answer to Israel even in their pit of despair: even though earth's greatest love—a mother for her child— might fail, the Lord's compassion for His ancient people would never cease.

Past generations might have looked at this verse and harbored some doubts as to nursing mothers forgetting - pushing aside—their tiny infants. Today, sadly, there are no more doubts, because the killing and abandoning of babies is so commonplace as to no longer cause people, including Christians, revulsion and tears.

Yet, where human love fails and where human promises turn to worthless ashes, God's promise to Israel is not only an absolute guarantee but is broad enough to take in you and me. Hasn't He told us He would never leave us nor forsake us? That He would be with us to the end of the age? The Cross proves forever His "forever love" to you and me.

"Why did He die for me? Why did He die for me?

It had to be love, that's found only above;

For Jesus to die for me.

I can't understand, the whole thing's too grand,

The Creator came down from above;

To woo and to win this creature of sin,

Quite simply, it just had to be love.

The King on a cross, what a terrible cost,

With a heart that was bursting with love;

Forsaken, accursed, what more could be worse?

Can't you see, it just had to be love."

My prayer: "You didn't just bear me as a woman bears a child. My Jesus, You bought me with Your own precious blood. It just had to be love - and I love You for it!"

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1)
The ST. PAUL SCHOOL, with Frank Eiklor, Eileen Young and Cecilia Contreras