Dr. Norman Vincent Peale had been asked to speak at a Memorial Day rally.
Since he was appearing on the dais with Teddy Roosevelt he spent considerable time preparing his part of the presentation: the invocation. When Dr. Peale got up to the event he was shocked to find the program said he was not giving the invocation.
He was supposed to be the main speaker.
In panic, he turned to the ex-president and asked for help. Teddy pointed to the row of Gold Star Mothers in the front of the audience and said, “Every one of them has lost a son in the war. There must be something you can say that will be helpful to them. If you’re scared, it’s probably because you’re thinking of yourself. Stop thinking of yourself and think of them instead.”
It shows the depth of Jesus’ love that our Heavenly Father did not need to give similar advice to His Son. From cradle to cross Jesus did not think of Himself.
Instead of regretting His sacrifice and complaining about His suffering, He thought of His disciples.
Jesus also thought of you.
Indeed, as God’s all-knowing Son, He thought of everyone who was ever going to face death. Jesus thought of the Gold Star Mothers at a Memorial Day remembrance. He thought of you and me standing by a casket, which contains the earthly remains of a loved one.
Jesus thought of us and put His feelings for Himself on hold and did all that was necessary, so we could live our days in peace and face the grave without fear.
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, even when death was closing in around You, You thought of Your disciples and us. Grant us the grace to learn to love others as You have first loved us. This we pray in Your Name. Amen.