When my oldest son left home
for university last fall, I did not deal with it well.
I know, I know. It happens to every parent. It is not
only a normal part of growing up, but it is also a sign of a mature, independent
child! They don't stay home forever!
So what was my problem?
Well, certainly there was the nostalgia. After all, it
seemed like just yesterday that he was just a babe in arms. Where had his young
life gone? Was I there enough for him? Did I give him the guidance, the love,
the direction that he needed? Couldn't I have just one more year to make up for
lost time?
And then, of course, there was the fact that I would
miss him terribly. The house would seem awfully quiet, awfully empty. I would
miss going running with him and listening to him tell me all about whatever
subject he was studying at the moment. It's true, I didn't understand half of
what he told me. Kids seem so much smarter now days! But I would miss those
runs. And I would miss him running down the stairs for a quick hug and kiss when
I got home from work. And I would even miss the moments he forgot he has legally
an adult, and stepped back into that ol' teenage attitude!
But it made me think: Is this how my Heavenly Father
felt that day in the garden, that day when the finest of His creation disobeyed,
bringing about a separation in the relationship?
No, I don't suppose it was.
Why?
Because God's feelings are so much purer and deeper
and stronger than any human emotion could possibly be! His heart didn't hurt the
way mine did, it hurt oh, so much more! In fact, God's heart hurt so much that
He figured out a way to put us back into the face-to-face relationship that was
lost in the Garden! And the "way" he figured out required the life of His Son,
Jesus, the Christ.
Now I don't know about you, but I'd much sooner put my
own life on the line than that of my son! But our Father God's love for us knows
NO bounds! He did the unthinkable, He sent His own Son to open the doors for us,
so that we need no longer experience that separation from Him.
Yes those first few weeks my son was gone were tough
on me. I remember sitting with my cell phone on my lap, willing it to ring, or
to at least give me an indication that I had received a text message. And when
it didn't, I couldn't stop myself from worrying. What was he doing? Was he okay?
Was he eating well and getting enough sleep? Was he remembering his time with
God?
Is this how my Heavenly Father feels when I forget to
pray? When I live my life as if He doesn't exist? Does He feel this way when I
choose to not take care of myself? When the people I spend my time with aren't
the kind that will have a positive influence on me? How does He feel when I set
other priorities higher than Him?
I can tell you the answer to that question, friends:
He hurts! God longs for us to spend time with Him even more intensely than I
wanted that phone to ring!
My son actually did very well during those first few
weeks. And though this should have made me happy, it made it all the harder. You
see, he was doing well without my help! I wasn't needed anymore!
Now if I had been there to help him, my son would have
accepted my help. Unlike him however, I do not always go to my Heavenly Father
for help. I don't always accept His advice. I often reject the gifts of love and
comfort, strength and wisdom that He longs to pour out for me! How must that
make Him feel? How does He feel when I turn to other sources to fill the hole in
my hearts?
Friends, I don't know about you, but I don't want to
hurt my Heavenly Father! He gave everything for me, can I not give Him back what
little I can? Can I not accept the gifts He pours out for me? Can I not listen
to His advice? Can I not spend the time with Him that His breaking heart so
longs to spend?
Will you join me this Father's Day in resolving to
spend more time with my Heavenly Father? Will you join me in resolving to listen
to His advice, to accept His gifts of love? To let Him feel the empty voids that
life creates? And not for just this one day, but for a lifetime?
If you will, then you've just given your Heavenly
Father the BEST gift you could possible give Him!
Happy Father's Day, God!
Lyn Chaffart
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