Where The Cross of Jesus Stands

In Grammar School, one of my teachers (a devoted lady of God) repeated, over and over again, to my tiny ears entrusted her that the Cross of Jesus was always behind each and every one of us. Her gentle voice encouraged our little lives to remember we could, no matter what, know and believe Jesus was there to lean back on when the world tried to push us down into failure or loss of faith.

Now at seven years old, I was all into learning absolute facts that prevented any chance of my failing — on my report card or in life!!! If Sister Maura said something was true, I memorized it as dogma. However, one First Friday morning that year, my Second Grade, literal mind collided with full blown shock that maybe, just maybe, facts can have more than one meaning and message.

My entire school was kneeling in Church, when my eyes looked to the altar and realized the Cross of Jesus WAS NOT behind me, but rather, in front of me. Even back then, my being did not lack boldness in forging into figuring out what Jesus’s promises really mean. Thus, I did the expected thing for me to do. I climbed over every classmate between me and the Church aisle, then marched my little person back to Sister Maura and, out loud, declared: You told me the Cross of Jesus is always behind me. No, it’s not. With my pointer finger stretching toward the altar, I continued. See, it’s in front of me. How Come???

Many of the older people and children around me started laughing. Sister Maura’s shocked expression was not giggling. Motioning me to join her in her pew, she took my little hand (and heart) and tenderly whispered: At lunchtime, I’ll explain the SECRET of how the Cross of Jesus can be both behind you and in front of you.

You better believe, when lunchtime finally arrived, I didn’t join the rank and file of my peers marching down to the lunch room. Instead, I plunked my tin lunch box down on Sister Maura’s desk and plopped my bottom down in the chair beside her desk. Sister Maura had some explaining to do, and I was all ears to have this SECRET figured out.

Crazy, isn’t it? Sixty-seven years have come and gone since that day, but I still remember it and the wisdom a dedicated teacher/lady of God instilled in me.

Sister Maura explained that God’s desire for me (and all His children) is for my life to travel a path leading to Him in heaven. Everyone’s path is different, so, at times, I would be alone and maybe a little afraid. At one time or another, I might even want to run back to the world behind me, which is the wrong direction from Heaven’s gates. However, the Cross of Jesus would forever stand right behind me. Whenever I looked back and saw the Cross and that Jesus died so my sins would be forgiven and I could enter heaven, I would not only feel brave enough to keep going, but also, realize I was not alone but that Jesus was with me and helping me reach heaven. Jesus would never leave me or abandon me. He always is behind me, supporting, forgiving and loving me — no matter what!!!

Next, Sister Maura shared the SECRET part of the story. In a hushed voice, she asked me if I remembered when she taught me God is EVERYWHERE. My little head shook yes. She went on to explain there would be times when I grew up that things would be difficult and I would want to quit on my road to heaven. I might be tired, sad, mad or, maybe, just confused and want to stop and give up. That is when Jesus (cause He is God) would show me He is everywhere. Jesus could, and would, put His Cross, also, in front of me, so I could see Him telling me not to stop and that He was leading me and would help me to keep going — even if He had to pull me forward.

Did I now understand why, and how, the Cross of Jesus is, IN TRUTH, both behind and in front of me, she asked? Filled with energy and Second Grade enthusiasm, I shouted out: Yes, I really really do!!!

Fast forwarding all these years, my recollect can innumerate many times when that day, way back in early Grammar School, laid the foundation for guiding me over, and my surviving, numerous mountains on my ongoing, personal path to heaven. How much strength and grace I’ve received because one devoted teacher sketched the vision for me that the Cross of Jesus stands behind, before and beside me always. May the sharing of this memory now be your picture of where the Cross of Jesus, truly, is for you, too.