A Parent's Sigh

 I was listening to a sermon Sunday and I thought again that I'm not sure that Jesus' dying was the biggest sacrifice to God. It was a sacrifice, that is sure, I'm not denying that, nor am I denying it's perfect symbology in God's perfect story. And for God to watch his son die that cruel death must have been a terrible thing. But God knew that Jesus' death meant Jesus would return to him. 

It seems to me the bigger sacrifice was for Jesus to come to earth. God knows what imperfect vessels we are because, after all, he created us. And for him to place His perfect son into an imperfect vessel was certainly a bigger sacrifice in my way of thinking. 

In my small human way of creating some kind of analogy, I think about my relationship with my own children. Even thought they are now adults, I am never happier than when they are both under the same roof with me. That hasn't happened for a few years since one lives in Hawaii and one lives in Virginia, but a few years ago when the Hawaii one was in school in Virginia, he visited the Virginia one and we visited too. I felt my whole body relax into one big sigh that night, having them both there in the same house with me. I know they are both capable adults and I know God looks out for them and loves them even more than I do, but just having them both close was so comforting. 

I wonder if God feels that too. I wonder if having Jesus out in the world where the devil was roaming was just a bit, well, stressful? And as horrific as the transition Jesus had to go through to get back home to heaven (physical death on a cross), did God also breathe a heavy sigh when he returned? Will God also breathe that same sigh when we return to Him? I think so.

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