God is a Father

There was a story that I am fond of repeating about a serendipity that occurred in the midst of this darkest and loneliest time. Shortly after my son was born, I was sitting in my car not wanting to go inside, but not wanting to go anywhere else either. So I sat in the driveway and listened to the radio, but I could not find a song or station I was satisfied with. As I was flipping through the stations, I clicked one the local Christian station. I heard:

"Today we are speaking about the Book of Job."

I thought, "This I can listen to."

"But first I would like to share a personal story," said the speaker. I will paraphrase the poignant story he told:

His 3-year-old son suffered many ear infections. During one particularly severe infection, the father took his son to see the doctor. The doctor explained that antibiotics would work, but first, the pus and infection had to be scraped off his eardrum, to prevent damage to the child's hearing.

Being a good father and not wishing any damage to his son's hearing, he told the doctor to proceed.

The doctor then explained that it is a very painful procedure.

Being a good father and not wishing to have his son suffer any undo pain, he told the doctor to knock him out with anesthesia.

The doctor explained that the child at 3 years old was too young for the potential damaging effects of anesthesia.

Being a good father and not wishing to have his son suffer an undo pain, he told the doctor to use a shot of Novocain to numb out the ear.

The doctor explained that the child's body was too small to be sure not to strike a nerve and cause greater harm.

Being a good father and not wishing to have his son suffer an undo pain, he asked in frustration, "Well, what do want me to do about it?"

The doctor said, "Hold him."

So the father secured the son by holding him in a hug-like position. The doctor began the scrapping and the child began screaming and crying. Being a good father, listening to his cries was very difficult, but that wasn't the worst part of being the father that day. In the position he was holding his son, they were both facing a mirror. No, the screaming and crying were not the worst for this good father. The expression on the 3-year-old's face that clearly said, "Dad, why are you letting him do this to me?"

It was at that moment of frustration and angst that the good father understood how much God loves us and how He holds us when we are in pain, even though, as a Good Father, He does not wish any of His children to suffer undo pain.

I am not too proud to tell you that I cried and wept for a long time after hearing that story. I felt God's hand reach down and touch my heart, reassuring me of His love and His presence. I have not doubted since that He is indeed my Father and that He has allowed me to grow in His light.

from
Rev. Fr. John-Brian Paprock
Living in the Eighth Day: Orthodox Pastoral Reflections in American Mission
Father’s Day (06-20-04) pages 40-41
Holy Transfiguration Publications, 2005, Madison, Wisconsin
www.lulu.com/transfiguration - transfiguration@usa.com