Nobody Hurts Alone

"weep for yourselves and for your children"

Luke 23:28

There was a weird kind of a solstice in our house a couple of weeks ago.   Something disappointing had happened in the lives of each of my children, at the same time. 

I was stuck in a melange of emotions.  Anger at those were responsible for my kids' disappointment.  Shared sorrow and despondency.  Remorse for what I might have done to prevent the problems from happening in the first place.  And I was teaching my son at the time, so in between subjects, as we put away books, and got out other ones, I was doing a little muttering to myself.  My Amazing Boy asked was wrong, and I just summarized by saying, "Both my kids are unhappy.  I hate it when my kids are unhappy." 

And then I added, a little cheekily, "... unless it's my fault..."

We both kind of laughed a little, but there was actually some truth in what I was saying.  Sometimes parents have to make decisions that hurt their kids.  Punishments, or consequences for their bad choices, or having to say no to something they want.  It's hard ~ remember that old saw "this is gonna hurt me more than it hurts you." ?  There's truth in that.

But anytime you have to make a decision that's going to disappoint your kids, you have to feel strongly about it, or you wouldn't have made the decision in the first place, right?  It still hurts, but you feel you're doing what you have to do. 

I think the same thing is true about God.  I believe He hurts when we hurt, and that doesn't change just because He orchestrates or allows the pain.  Which, of course, is true all the time...

And of course, He also has the benefit of always knowing what's the right thing to do in any given situation.  No second-guessing or doubting for Him.  Me?  Happens all the time. 

He knows we're living in a world of tribulation.  Jesus told us so.   And He knows that comes with pain.  Jesus experienced that.  And it somehow comforts me to know that when my kids and I are hurting, my Father is hurting too. 

~ "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; 

there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  

There shall be no more pain, 

for the former things have passed away." ~

Revelation 21:4

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