Papaw Don't "Left" Me!!!
There was a man who had spent two years in Vietnam and
had barely escaped with his life. He spent all that time
suffering in the most miserable conditions imaginable. But
when asked what the worse thing he had ever suffered during
his lifetime, he said this:
"I've raised my granddaughter for most of her life. Her
father moved to another state and abandoned her when she was
only a few months old. Due to a mental condition, her mother
was unable to safely care for her. One time when she was
about three years old, her mother took her from us to live
with her and an excessively abusive man. We went to visit
her in another city, and when we were about to leave, she
began hysterically crying, reaching her arms out to me
begging, "Papaw, please don't 'left' me!!!"
There was nothing I could do. Her mother insisted she stay with her. My wife and I cried all the way home, and many nights afterwards we would take turns staying up all night, crying out to God in prayer. I would have to say THAT was the worse pain I've ever suffered. When your (grand) child is hurting and wants to be with you and you are forced to forsake them...that is real suffering.
There is a happy side to my story, however. Shortly after
that, she came to live with us again and we still have her.
She is well adjusted and is a perfect student in honors
classes. There was another Father who had to leave His Son
for a brief period of time. His son cried out to Him from
the cross, 'My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?!' I
think I know a little about what God the Father felt at that
moment when His Son Jesus needed Him, but He had to depart
as Jesus took our sins upon Himself. Sin causes so much
pain."
Perhaps it was that brief moment that Jesus knew that He
would be separated from His father that caused Him to say
these things to comfort us, as is recorded by the writer of
Hebrews:
Hebrews 13:5 KJ (Emphasis mine) " Let your conversation be
without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye
have; for He hath said, I will NEVER LEAVE THEE, nor forsake
thee."
Though earthly loved ones may abandon us or leave us, God
will not, no matter what the circumstances.
Psalms 27:9,10 LB (Written by David) "Oh, do not hide
yourself when I am trying to find you. Do not angrily reject
your servant. You have been my help in all my trials before;
don't leave me now. Don't forsake me, O God of my salvation.
For if my father and mother should abandon me, you would
welcome and comfort me."
Some of you who are lonely and fatherless may not have a
Papaw that loves you and will care for you. Or you may have
been widowed and and left alone, but we all have a Father
that loves us, and who is there for us.
Psalms 68:5,6b "He is a father to the fatherless; He gives
justice to the widows, for He is holy. He gives families to
the lonely..."
Father, thank You for ALWAYS being there. Thank You for
suffering as You offered Your Son, Jesus, for our sins. Your
heart must have broken when You could not reach down to Him
when He cried out to You! Thank You that when the fatherless
cry out to You, You will be their Father...You will watch
over them and meet their every need. I praise You and thank
You for being my Father and placing me into the family of
God, with Jesus as my Brother, who will stick closer to me
than any earthly brother. I pray today for those who are
fatherless and lonely, and I ask that the Holy Spirit will
show them that they DO have a Father who loves them very
much. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Rooted and grounded in the love of Christ Jesus,
Marlene JuHaros,
TexasSower@aol.com
"Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which will
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