Like any decent parent who loves their kids and wants to see them happy, I have at times been the old softy who, after admittedly being a little frustrated, have bought a replacement balloon… or two… to replace one that has floated off into the great unknown. The same is true when ice cream has been dropped, or a new toy broken. Especially if the boys have saved up and spent their own money on something.
Maybe your parents never did that. Maybe you’ve never done that as a parent. Maybe the philosophy you have lived under… or lived by… was “Tough luck, Chuck. Maybe this will teach you, and next time you won’t…”. If so, I’m sorry.
I’m sorry because that possibly influences the way in which you view God. You may think that because your blew it… or messed up something… or lost something… you are bad and need to learn to be good.
But God is a good, loving and gracious Father. Scripture says that He is slow to get angry and quick to forgive. It says that He delights in bringing joy into our lives.
No matter what stage of life you’re in, we all evaluate our lives when we’ve lost something. Maybe you’ve lost your health… or a person you love… or a job… or a dream. Whatever the situation, God sees that you lost it. He knows how much you enjoyed it. And He wants to give you something else in its place which will bring you just as much… if not more… joy!
So you made a mistake. Let Him wipe those tears away. And don’t be afraid to ask Him to give you something else in its place. It’s in His heart to do it already.
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