The reason Jesus came to this earth was to show us what
sacrificial love looks like. He came to die on a cross for us so we could live
an eternity with Him. He instructs us to love others as He has loved us even to
the point of laying down our lives for another. It is the greatest example of
sacrificial love. The closest thing we as humans experience to this sacrificial
love is when we become a parent. When that precious little one is placed in our
arms we realize we are holding someone that has taken the meaning of love to a
whole different level. Everything we placed as important to us has suddenly
dropped down that priority list. This little creature has changed who we are
and what we do. We would give up everything for them, even our hearts. Those
hearts that we wear on our sleeves will beat with the sound of love, but they
can also find themselves getting bruised and battered as we watch these little
ones grow into big people.
We pray to God with all that we have to protect them. We
want what is best for them, or for what WE think is best for them. A dear
friend of mine had a heart full of love for her little boy. He brought her so
much joy. As this little boy grew he became a big person in a battle for his
mind. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Her prayers became more desperate
for his release from this world of mental illness. She was his caretaker, his
support, and where he found comfort in his darkest times. Who would fill that
role if she wasn’t there in her absence? As his battle waged, the realization
for his life here on earth brought her to a new prayer, a prayer most mothers
could never imagine praying. She found herself on her knees praying for the
Lord to take him before her. The fear of who would take care of him after her
death and watching him struggle day in and day out led her to this selfless
prayer. She shared the guilt she felt for praying that prayer. I see this as a
mother who had tremendous love and compassion on her son. To lose a child has
to be one of life’s most painful heartaches. This mom was willing to take on
this pain to spare her son the pain he would have to endure. She released her
son into the arms of the Son who had love and compassion on us. The Son who
gave of His life so we could have eternal life. This is sacrificial love. My
friend did what the Lord commanded; she loved her son and took on the pain of a
grieving mom.
Lord, it is because of Your death on the cross that we can
know, even in our deep grief, that our children are free of all pain and living
a life we can only imagine.
– Michele
