Blood-washed bitterness

May is a memory month for me.
There are several significant losses and events.
This year has been somewhat more ~ ~ ~
what is the word I'm looking for?
not painful really ~ ~ ~
ah, emotional!
It has been more emotional.
There are fewer distractions during this time of sheltering.

Today is one of those dates
and as I was preparing communion
I saw our bottle of tonic water
next to the juice.
We drink a bit of tonic water each day.
We mix it with juice because it is so bitter.
Even with the sweetness added,
it is still bitter.

It made me think about Christ on the cross.
He was thirsty.
They gave Him gall to drink.

gall

1

[ gawl ]

SEE SYNONYMS FOR gall ON THESAURUS.COM

---

noun

impudence; effrontery.

bile, especially that of an animal.

something bitter or severe.

bitterness of spirit; rancor.

Gall.
Not water.
Something bitter.
Severe.
Something that could be described as "bitterness of spirit".

As His body was broken,
as His blood was dripping from his body down the cross,
as He cried out for one modicum of mercy,
He was given gall.
And He bore our bitterness of spirit.
He tasted the bitter taste of sin.
He tasted the bitter taste of loss.
He tasted the bitter taste of brokenness.
He tasted the bitter taste of loneliness.
He tasted the bitter taste of depression.
He tasted the bitter taste of abandonment.
He tasted the bitter taste of death.

He drank gall.
For us.

So this morning,
as I prepared communion
in the midst of an emotional day that smacks of bitterness,
I poored mostly tonic water ~ bitterness ~ in our cup,
mingled with just a bit of juice ~ the blood of Christ that wipes out bitterness ~
to remind myself
that the price He paid,
He paid for days such as this.

And I am grateful!!!