No stranger to public displays of affection,

I sit down next to the entwined and ask them

What is your favorite Jesus story?

The boy-man deflects

What is your favorite Jesus story?

I tell him a story about the Son of Man raising Lazarus from the dead after four days only to walk willingly into the maw of his own brutal crucifixion

Face the shame

Face the sin

Face the grief and

Wrath of the Holy God

3 days later—rise again

I ask them how I can pray for them and she says,

I’ve got lots of people praying for me! Don’t you worry about me!