Love in Action
“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.” – Psalm 103:13
“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.” – Psalm 103:13
As I was growing up, my parents were careful to teach my sisters and me right from wrong. Even though my dad was not a Christian, he told us about Heaven and Hell and eternity. He tried to instill tender consciences in us, but I thought he was too strict. After I graduated from high school, I moved away from home and began partying, drinking, and doing drugs, and distanced myself from my parents.
By the time I was twenty years old, my dad and I began getting closer again. We both loved to hunt and fish, and sometimes went out together. One time in the fall, we were in the woods and there were four inches of snow on the ground. I was woefully unprepared: my boots were cheap rubber ones, and after hiking for some time, my feet hurt so badly that I could not stand it. My dad had on good, expensive boots, and he offered to let me wear them. He wore my cheap boots for the rest of the day. When we got back to the truck, I asked my dad what the boots cost and bought them from him on the spot.
At the time, I thought it was nice of my dad to trade boots with me. But now that I have a grown son of my own, I understand more about a father’s love. Under similar circumstances, I would certainly make the same trade with my son, only he wears shoes that are three sizes bigger than mine!
If an earthly father is so willing to help his son, consider the love that God has for us as His children! We want the best for our children, and sometimes, when they are young, that means disciplining them or not allowing them all their wishes. God can see the end from the beginning, and He knows precisely what is best for us at each moment. When He corrects us or does not allow something we desire, it is because He loves us.
When we face difficulties in life, it can be easy to wonder if God notices and cares. If those thoughts enter our minds, we can remember my dad and his boots. God would do more than trade boots with us—He gave His Son to die for us! His love will never fail, and we can trust Him completely in every circumstance.