“Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me’ (Psalm 27:10, NIV).
Violet’s father was a quiet man who worked seven days a week to support his family. He made sure his kids never lacked for anything. But words were hard for him, and he rarely expressed his feelings out loud.
Violet was settled with her own family, happily raising three kids when the news came that her father could no longer live on his own. Her mother had passed away several years earlier.
“I talked it over with my husband and we brought him home. I didn’t want strangers at a nursing home caring for him. I knew the stroke had taken his ability to speak, but I wanted him to be surrounded by the love and warmth of family.”
One day, Violet was helping the home health aide care for her father when she saw scars on his back. Curious, she called her aunt to ask about them.
Her aunt sighed softly before she said, “Your grandmother had nine kids and your granddaddy-he was mean. Your father stood up to him, repeatedly he protected us. He was my hero, growing up, always saving people.”
The words shocked Violet. “I’d never considered where he’d come from before,” She said, “For the first time, I realized my dad carried a lot of pain and maybe that’s why he struggled to say out loud how much we meant to him.”
Relationships with parents can be complicated. Sometimes, parents don’t express their feelings like Violet’s dad and sometimes, they aren’t supportive or kind.
You can’t change who your parents are or where they came from. But you can rest knowing that God is holding onto you. He’s the perfect parent and He’ll never fail you or abandon you.
God, help me remember you are the perfect parent. When my heart is overwhelmed with hurt, let me turn to you for comfort. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions for Thought and Application
- What does it mean to you to know that God is the perfect parent?
- Why do you think people turn to Him when they’re feeling lost or abandoned?
- How has knowing that God will never fail or abandon you made a difference in your life?
- What do you think is the most important thing for someone to remember when they’re feeling lost or alone?
