photo cred. Rhaul V. Alva on unsplash

Does God really care about the hurts we parents carry for our children? Today’s blog post is from a dad whose been there and understands – my husband Tom. He has something to say to that question and he knows what he’s talking about.

His message reminds us about 3 things we need to hear – especially during the holidays when our pain is more intense.

These 3 things are central to the message of the gospel and to Christmas. They intertwine beautifully to speak to our aching hearts. We hope they’ll help you today.

God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. This is what we celebrate at Christmas. The Apostle John wrote: ” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1: 1,14 NIV).

The Apostle Paul wrote the same in his letter to the Philippians,

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2: 6-8 NIV)!

God sent His Son. He put Himself in our skin. This includes us as hurting parents.

Isaiah the prophet wrote about Jesus’ coming, “He was despised and forsaken of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”

Jesus felt what many hurting parents feel: sorrow, grief, rejection, disrespect, loneliness and more.

While the Bible doesn’t use the word, the message of Christmas is also a message of the empathy God has for us human beings.

Drs. Les and Leslie Parrot wrote: “Empathy is the capacity to see the world accurately from another person’s perspective. Empathy is at the heart of the gospel.”

Empathy is also at the heart of Christmas.

The Parrots say empathy has three parts. Hurting parents need to be reminded of them:

1. I notice you.
2. I feel with you.
3. I act to help you.

Christmas, the baby in a manger, his life, death and resurrection, is a message from God saying in the most profound way, I notice you! I feel you! I act to help you!

photo cred. Dan Kiefer on unsplash

Christmas is also intertwined with giving and gifts. Giving Tuesday kicks off the holiday season following Thanksgiving. We enjoy selecting gifts for our friends and loved ones, often shopping months in advance. But God is the original and ultimate gift-giver. He loved the world (you and me and our wayward, troubled children) so much that He gave a sacrifical, costly gift to all mankind. He gave Himself in the person of His one and only Son. Whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). What an outrageous and priceless gift.

God wants to spend eternity with us and with our sons and daughters. When we can’t see anything good happening in their lives, we need to believe with our hearts that God notices them. He feels with them and has acted to help them. He will continue to notice, feel and act until they draw their last breath.

He’ll never stop.

Love compels Him.

Dear God, this Christmas, rather than being a reminder of what we may have lost or don’t have anymore, please remind us how much we’re loved by another hurting parent—You. May we find comfort that You are FOR us, You KNOW what we think and feel. You have ACTED on our behalf and will continue to act to help us … and our children. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

God bless you this Christimas season as you keep trusting Him with your child.

A devotional book you might like is The One Year Book of Hope by Nancy Guthrie.

Another book you might like is Tom’s, Moments of Clarity: Wisdom From the Father of a Prodigal (available in hardback and ebook formats as well as paperback). It’s a recent Amazon best seller in ebooks!