We received a much anticipated letter from Ryan yesterday. Our entire family has been waiting and hoping to hear something from him.
As we waited, our longing was intense. We hoped each day that there would a letter or a phone call. We dashed to the phone when it rang. We hurried to the mailbox after the mail was delivered. Our hearts were longing to hear something from him. It caused me to wonder if this is how God feels every day as He waits to see if his children will stop to spend some time with Him.
We opened the letter with joy. Our joy turned to more intense longing though, as we read the words of a young man who is away from home for the first time. He misses us. A lot. He is hurting deeply. The hurt in his heart is worsened by the fact that the first few weeks of boot camp are probably the hardest. But he said, "I wanna see it through. I hope it will be worth it."
Our son is suffering. Other sons are suffering. Whether or not those boys are there for noble reasons, the fact remains that they are there for me. For you. Their pain, whether in boot camp or on the battlefield, benefits the citizens of the United States far more than it benefits an individual soldier. Yet, we do not suffer in the least as they toil through each day. In fact, we seem rather far removed from it all. They stand between our enemy and freedom. And they know. The only way to keep this country safe is to allow themselves to be put in some very painful circumstances.
And so they endure it. They subject themselves to the rigorous training that the military requires.
For me.
For you.
They don't have to go, but they are willing.
Many years ago, another Father watched his son suffer. This son stood between us and death. This son answered the call to redeem a world that was hopeless. But it meant that he would have to suffer unspeakable cruelty on a wooden cross.
For me.
For you.
We did nothing, suffered nothing, and yet Jesus gave up all He knew to protect and save us. He left a wonderful, loving home to come and stand between us and the grave. The cost was enormous. He didn't have to come, but He was willing.
We treasure every word Ryan wrote in his letter and we hope he will continue to write to us. We eagerly anticipate any news from him--as I'm sure he is anticipating letters from us.
Years ago, another letter was written. It was written to us with love from the one who stood between us and death. He is hoping we will read His letter. He wants us to know how much He loves us. He wants to encourage and comfort us with His words when life seems too hard and overwhelming. He wants to show us how to live--to REALLY live, not just exist. Will we read it? He wrote it.
To me.
To you.
Read it. Savor it. Treasure it. His word is LIFE.
"...if...you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 4:29
As we waited, our longing was intense. We hoped each day that there would a letter or a phone call. We dashed to the phone when it rang. We hurried to the mailbox after the mail was delivered. Our hearts were longing to hear something from him. It caused me to wonder if this is how God feels every day as He waits to see if his children will stop to spend some time with Him.
We opened the letter with joy. Our joy turned to more intense longing though, as we read the words of a young man who is away from home for the first time. He misses us. A lot. He is hurting deeply. The hurt in his heart is worsened by the fact that the first few weeks of boot camp are probably the hardest. But he said, "I wanna see it through. I hope it will be worth it."
Our son is suffering. Other sons are suffering. Whether or not those boys are there for noble reasons, the fact remains that they are there for me. For you. Their pain, whether in boot camp or on the battlefield, benefits the citizens of the United States far more than it benefits an individual soldier. Yet, we do not suffer in the least as they toil through each day. In fact, we seem rather far removed from it all. They stand between our enemy and freedom. And they know. The only way to keep this country safe is to allow themselves to be put in some very painful circumstances.
And so they endure it. They subject themselves to the rigorous training that the military requires.
For me.
For you.
They don't have to go, but they are willing.
Many years ago, another Father watched his son suffer. This son stood between us and death. This son answered the call to redeem a world that was hopeless. But it meant that he would have to suffer unspeakable cruelty on a wooden cross.
For me.
For you.
We did nothing, suffered nothing, and yet Jesus gave up all He knew to protect and save us. He left a wonderful, loving home to come and stand between us and the grave. The cost was enormous. He didn't have to come, but He was willing.
We treasure every word Ryan wrote in his letter and we hope he will continue to write to us. We eagerly anticipate any news from him--as I'm sure he is anticipating letters from us.
Years ago, another letter was written. It was written to us with love from the one who stood between us and death. He is hoping we will read His letter. He wants us to know how much He loves us. He wants to encourage and comfort us with His words when life seems too hard and overwhelming. He wants to show us how to live--to REALLY live, not just exist. Will we read it? He wrote it.
To me.
To you.
Read it. Savor it. Treasure it. His word is LIFE.
"...if...you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 4:29
