He's my son

The other day, I sat with my son in his room and we had a good discussion.  He has come to the point in life where we have to expand our boundaries.  He is a senior now and next year he will be going off to college.  I have always told my self "I'm ready."  "I really am ready!" Who am I kidding?

As parents, we often think on the day when our kids will eventually leave our home.  We have had two leave already and he is our last to go.  The day we sat and talked, I knew he was injured about an incident that had taken place.  He was feeling a mix of emotions and together, we worked through it. 

I recall watching the movie The Green Mile where the prisoner (Michael Duncan) took on people's ailments, injuries and hurts.  He got a hold of the correction officer (Tom Hanks) and "took on" his ailment and relieving Hanks of his pain and trouble.  As a result, a great friendship was formed even to death.

I wish it worked that way.  I really do.  I would take on my son's pain, injury, hurts, and ailments so that he would not ever suffer.  Unfortunately, God's Word tells us that's how we grow, it's how we are refined, it's how we build character. 

I recall going to bed that night telling God-I want it!  Give it to me....give me my son's pain but relieve him of it.  Yes...we all make mistakes, we speak to much and often listen too little but when the reprucussions come, we just want relief. 

I told God "give me his pain, I don't want to see him sad or troubled.....he's my son!" and as soon as the words were out of my mouth, I heard "..and HE was MY son!"  Jesus IS God's son and he did suffer to the point of death for us.  He sufferred ridicule, pain, injury, troubles, criticism, and still he went to the cross to give me eternal life and our Heavenly Father watched as his son did that for us. 

We don't want our children to suffer even for a moment, but it is inevitable.  My prayer is that my son will recognize that through it all, the God who gave his own son, will never leave him.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose....He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also along with him, graciously give us all things?  Romans 8:28 & 32

I love you Matthew Eller!