I can remember a time when I was little that my dad embraced me in his physical pain, when he felt my emotional pain. My dad had surgery on his shoulder. My mom took my sister, two brothers, and I into see him. He was in the hospital bed waiting for us. I climbed in the bed with him and laid by his side. A tear rolled down my cheek as I thought of the pain my dad was in. As my mom wiped it away, my dad felt my broken heart, and in his own pain from the surgery, he wrapped his arm around me and held me tight to let me know he is always there.
Almost 15 years later I can still remember my dad's powerful arm lift and comfort me by his touch. All four of us kids climbed in bed and allowed ourselves to be wrapped in his arms.
One of the most powerful acts of love between a father and son takes place in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Each one of us knows what it is like to watch a loved one struggle. I heard this saying many times throughout my life: "If I could, I would take that pain away from you." It is hard to go through tough times but its even harder to watch a friend or child go through it.
To relate John 3:16 to myself I added "For my parents so loved God that they sent their daughter out to raise His children, a son to serve His children, a son to protect His creations, and are preparing another son to become who He desires. That whosoever follows, believes, trusts, and teaches them will not perish, but have everlasting life."
My parents have watched their only daughter get married and move out to take care of her own family. They have sent a son on a mission to serve the Lord and bring his lost sheep back home. They have sent a son into the military to serve and defend our country. They are working with their youngest son to prepare him for what is to come.
It takes a lot of strength to endure, but it takes a lot more love to watch and support. Heavenly Father had to watch and support His Son as He suffered for us. My parents and many others can understand a portion of what our Father in Heaven felt as Christ asked for the "cup" to be removed. But then said "not my will, but thine be done".
Just as Heavenly Father sends His Son out in the world to defend, protect, teach, and be the example for us. Our parents have to let us go and learn, to do the things that Christ did. Even when we turn the other way, they are still there to wrap their arms around us each time. How heartbroken was Heavenly Father as He watched His Son suffer on that cross. But how proud was He when He was able to hold His Son in His arms again.
I know this first hand with my family. When one of us slips and falls my parents are always there. For those of us who don't have parents, we ALL have that wonderful loving Father in Heaven who is there for us each time we have a tear run down our cheek. He wipes it away and holds us tight.
Christ says in John 14:7,9 "If ye had known me, ye have known my father also....he that hath seen me hath seen the father." I can only wish that when someone looks at me they can see either one of my parents.
"Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad." What makes your father the one you call dad?
