Hollow

She always thought that God's eyes were hollow.

Emotionless. Empty. Like looking into a dark well that held no water at midnight. Something mysterious and unattainable, wild and supernatural. She knew that God loved, but she couldn't see how the God of Moses and Abraham could love like she did. Like humans did. It had to be something else entirely. After all, He was the beginning and the end. He was just something she couldn't comprehend. And so she prayed, night after night, looking out the tiny window above her bed at the empty desert sky and imagined God looking down at her, imagined the inconceivable eyes and just…asked.

She started at the soft steps at the door, surprised that her Son should be home so early. She turned to greet Him with a warm smile, when she stopped short. Blood ran down His temples, the piece of wool He held in His hand too saturated to hold any more. She hung her head and sighed. He didn't need to say anything.

"Their daddy is dead," He said, startling her. She dabbed lightly at the spot with a wet rag. "What, my Child?"

"Their daddy is dead. He died a few months ago, and that's why they're so sad all the time."  

She regarded Him with gentle puzzlement, searching for clarity in her young Son's words. "You're talking about the boys who hurt You when You gather wood near the river, right?"

He nodded. "Uh-huh. Jeremy is like the daddy now, since he's the oldest, and he doesn't like it, so he's mean to other people because he doesn't like it." He turned to her. "Mommy, I'm going to pray for them so we can be friends. I really want to be friends with them, even when they're mean. They just need to learn how to be happy again, that's all!"

How often did she stare with wonder at the Child before her. Not just a few hours after receiving the worst thrashing yet, and He was already making plans to try again. She just couldn't understand. How could such a little Child have such undying love? Children were rather quick to forgive, but not every single time as He did.

No sooner did she finish wrapping the bandage did He sprint out the door with a smile on His face. He snatched His staff from near the pasture gate, then turned and ran back in to His mother. She was cleaning what few drops of blood had spilled on the floor, when she suddenly felt a small hand lift her chin up until she was staring into His eyes.

She froze.

"Don't worry mommy. This is why I'm here. I will always be about my Father's business." He smiled, kissed her gently on the forehead, and ran off.

She always thought that God's eyes were hollow.

She was wrong.