Parental Love

Our phone rang at 4:15 this morning. It's always nerve-wracking when you get a call in the middle of the night (or morning), worried about what news you're about to hear. It was our son, Aaron, who said he was sick after eating some bad meat. We offered to come by his house and bring him some medicine. Or come get him and let him sleep at our house. He kindly declined those offers.

It was so hard for Susan and me to not go be with our sick boy, whom we love so much. But we just had to talk him through the ordeal, make suggestions as to what medicine he might take and told him how much we loved him and that we would pray for him.

After we got off the phone, Susan and I prayed for Aaron. Then we talked about how much we loved him and thus hurt so much for our sick child. A few minutes later he called back to say he was feeling better and hoped to go back to sleep. We never heard from him the rest of the night and were thanking God that he apparently is doing better.

Before dozing off to sleep, Susan mentioned how it's so cool that God gives us a template for His love for us through our love for our kids. Aaron apologized for calling us in the middle of night, but we told him we want him to call any time. We want to be there for our kids when they go through tough times. How much more does our Father in heaven want to be there for us!

Luke 11 came to mind:

"You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Our Father LOVES us. He wants to help us in our time of need. He promises us His presence -- the precious Holy Spirit. All we need to do is call out to Him in the Name of Jesus...even if it's in the middle of the night.

Jim