Forgive Yourself

Sister Grace Remington, a Cistercian nun with the Sisters of the Mississippi Abbey, drew this picture of Mary consoling Eve as Eve smites the serpent. For several days, she pondered sin, confession, redemption, and the mysteries of the Incarnation and our Salvation, and this lovely image emerged from her contemplation.

The serpent in the picture has represented many things since it appeared in the story of the first sin in Genesis 2. In this image, I wonder if it represents Eve’s shame, and Mary stomping out that serpent of shame as she consoles her sister Eve. Because that’s what Queens do: we comfort each other, and we help stomp out the forces of evil.

Shame is a horrible feeling - it causes us to replay our mistakes over and over in our minds. Queens, God never intended for us to feel shame. After Adam and Eve sinned, they felt shame for their sin and hid their bodies. God didn’t shame them - God sought them out, made them clothing, and provided them with the tools to move on and build a new life together.

Queens, Jesus tells us that when we ask God for forgiveness, our sins are wiped away. We have a clean slate! If God isn’t replaying our sins, neither should we. We should wipe our slates clean and move forward.