Lessons From My Son

Since birth, my son Luke has had a quiet determination about him. He is good at pressing on, adapting, staying the course. He has perseverance. He had surgery this week and I have learned some important lessons from him.

Trust. Throughout the surgery and his painful recovery, Luke has never asked why. I think the reason is because he is only 3. At that age kids tend to trust what their parents say has to happen. Naturally, children that do not grow up in a stable environment have trouble with this. However, because Luke has always had 2 loving parents that have met all his needs, he feels no need to questions his circumstances. Our love has proved trustworthy to him. As I thought on this I wondered to myself why I sometimes have such a hard time trusting God. Hasn't He proved so much more trustworthy than anything? Has He ever failed me? Never! I don't understand all the things that happen in my life anymore than Luke, at age 3, understands why he needed surgery, and yet Luke trusts. Where is my trust when things don't go as I think they should?

Purpose in pain. Part of Luke's recovery involves medication to his ears that is very painful to him. Although his father and I know that the benefits of the medication outweigh the temporary pain, Luke does not know or understand that. He just knows that he is suffering. As I was praying for Luke last night, that he might understand why we have to cause some pain for his good, it hit me. How many times has God caused or allowed pain in my life for my good? Does He ever sit in heaven and say what I said to Luke, that it is really better to have pain for a moment than stay as you are for a lifetime? Just as I love Luke to much to refuse him the medication, God loves me enough to put me through the fire to refine me. God knows that there is purpose in the pain.

Rest in loving arms. Luke could refuse to be held after I give him painful medication but he understands something, I love him even though I am causing pain. He allows me to hold and rock him because he knows from experience that I love him and will comfort him. How often has God tried to comfort me in my sorrows, through His word, or friends, or a song and I have turned Him away? How foolish of me. There is a time to rest and God always provides it.

My faith is a lot smaller than Luke's even though he is a lot smaller than I. I could learn a lot from him and I pray I do. Lately I have struggled with my own pain and suffering. I have questioned and refused comfort. God still holds me though, He never waivers in His giving of rest, care or love. To quote an old Hymn that keeps coming to mind...

"A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord. He taketh my burden away. He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved. He giveth me strength by the day. He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock that shadows a dry, thirsty land. He hideth my life, in the depths of His love, and covers me there with His hand, and covers me there with His hand."