Devotionals
The Broken Lamp
When my daughter was young she would, on occasion, nap with me and it was a wonderful affection. Knowing that my little girl still wanted to sleep in `mommy's' bed and to be by my side filled me with awe and love.
One particular afternoon I woke from my nap to find Nikki awake and playing with a small decorative lamp on my nightstand. Groggily I told my daughter to turn off the lamp before it broke. As she turned the switch the lamp fell and broke.
My daughter was sure that I would severely punish her for that broken lamp and that I hated her for breaking it. Immediately Nikki began to wail and was full of remorse. I'd never seen her that emotional before. My heart broke for my daughter and I felt her grief. All I could do was hold her and tell her it was OK. I needed to comfort her. I just wanted her to be happy and to know that she was forgiven.
No matter how much we love our children we, as parents, make mistakes. There is only one perfect Parent, that is our Father in Heaven. There is only one perfect Son also. Jesus-God's only Son. "God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have life everlasting." (John3:16) God is full of compassion, love and mercy for His children.
It is a difficult joy being a parent. Our hearts yearn after, our eyes watch, our ears listen for and our hands take care of our children. So it is with our Holy Father. God wants the best for us.
Because we love our children and want them to do well, we sometimes have to discipline our children. Likewise when we are in rebellion God may have to rebuke us or use extreme measures to get us back to Him. However, "God Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us" (Eph2:4) we will be forgiven when we repent. When we express, to our Heavenly Father, our heartbreak at our own mistakes or sin, God is faithful to forgive. In the manner that I looked upon my daughter's grief over the broken lamp, so the LORD looks upon our distress over our transgressions. Jesus wants us to be happy and to know that we are forgiven. God's love and mercy is perfect.
If you are mourning over a `broken lamp' in your life, keep in mind God can and will forgive you when you ask Him. We all have left broken pieces of things. Do not think that our Holy Father doesn't love you now and always, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38&39). Just turn back to God and let Him comfort and restore you. God will heal your hurt. "...God is love" (1John4:8)
July 17, 2005
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I read the full extent of your compassion for your daughter in her moment of realizing what she had done. I read the love portrayed in your thoughts of her lying next to you. I don't have children, but I had no trouble understanding these two situations because you wrote your story from the heart.
Marie, thanks for these words of inspiration, I am so thankful for a Father who loves and cares for us. Much love, Rita
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