Parental Pain

 

We were sitting together outside the operating theatre waiting while our only son was being anaesthetised and prepared for surgery on his hand. In the end, it turned out to be only a minor op that he needed after he got his fingers caught in the spoke of a bicycle wheel, but it was no less traumatic for us as his parents. We would gladly have changed places with him on the gurney if we could! We were living in the developing world, in a tiny island nation in the Indian Ocean, where at that time hospital facilities were very basic. Thankfully, no great harm was done, mainly to our fingernails as well as his, and Matthew recovered well. But there is no greater pain than watching your children suffer.

This week two children connected to our fellowship have been in the UK undergoing surgery. One was a '12 hours in theatre' job, and the other followed multiple previous surgeries. We have been supporting both families in prayer, and know that our God is also so moved at the needs of children too. He feels for us in our distress.

I came across a Bible verse today that says 'I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth' (Eph 3:15-16 The Passion Translation). I was aware that the 'father' heart of God is so much more loving and compassionate than mine. He feels deeply for our pain as his children. We are never out of his sight or mind. The parents who have sat and waited for surgeons to come back and report, feeling such strong emotions, reflect how our heavenly father feels about us. 

Today, let's thank God for his fatherly care of us. And let's really try to lean back on that care for our children too, and for our children's' children. '...from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children' (Psalm 103:17). 

Father-like He tends and spares us;

Well our feeble frame He Knows.

In His hands He gently bears us,

Rescues us from all our foes.

Praise Him, praise Him,

praise Him, praise Him,

Widely as His mercy flows. 

(From the hymn; Praise my Soul the King of Heaven - public domain)