Parents are Heroes

I am not a worrier by nature. I like to plan, but I’m also flexible, easy-going, and generally an optimist. Most of the time, I am deeply convinced that God is sovereign and in control and fully worthy of all my trust. Every now and then, however, life steps in and reminds me that I can worry with the best of them and that my abounding trust in God’s goodness is often based more on circumstances than on certainty.

Last night, I lay awake in the dark for hours, straining my ears to catch the slightest hint of a whimper from the crate beside my bed. My dog, Devo, was sick yesterday and was refusing food and water for the first time in his life. He is a dog. Dogs throw up. He is in extremely good health and is (perhaps excessively) cared for. He wasn’t bleeding or wounded in any way, he just didn’t eat for a day. And it sent me into an absolute panic of hyper vigilance and an eventual trip to the emergency vet.

It occurred to me, lying in the dark, that my fear for the life of this dog was almost overwhelming. And I am not a fussy, fearful person. Then I thought of all the parents and caregivers who lie in bed each night straining their ears for a disruption of breath, the faint whimper of a nightmare, a rustle of sheets from an overheated sleeper. And I thought—parents are heroes.

I cannot imagine sustaining last night’s level of watchfulness and worry night after night. The apostle John writes “there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18) In context, it is clear he is saying those who love Christ need not fear eternal judgment for their sins. But in our human relationships (and even our canine ones), the more we love, the more we fear. God is sovereign. God is good. Let there be no doubt about that. As Romans 8:28 declares, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God.” There is tremendous comfort in this promise of our eternal good, our eternal security. But it is no guard against earthly tragedy. And so we fear.

As we adore the children who come into our lives, we feel their every hurt, try to fix their every sniffle, bandage every scrape. For all of you who love children who are already wounded, this burden is even greater. The thought of any further harm coming to them is unbearable; they have experienced far more pain than any child ever should. And so to all who take up this burden, this love that carries terror, I applaud your courage, your dedication, your vigilance. You are heroes.

Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted.” Isaiah 49:13