A Girl and Her Stick - A Father's Response to His Child's Sorrow

A while back, my daughter Hope and I went on an “adventure walk” around our property. In no time at all, she spotted a large stick that would make a trusty walking stick for her as we went exploring. She quickly fell in love with it and carried it for the rest of the walk. As we walked through fields, down railroad tracks, and back to our house, she wielded her trusty stick as any true adventurer would. Later, she attempted to “plant” her stick in our front yard, hoping that it would grow into a tree. While she was distracted playing with something else, Zoey (our dog) grabbed it, ran off, and promptly began chewing on it, breaking it into several pieces.

Hope was crushed. First, she was shocked, then angry at Zoey, and then she began to cry as she realized her favorite stick was beyond saving. After observing all this while sitting on the front porch, I had her come to me and tried to explain that’s what dogs do. Zoey wasn’t intending to be mean; she just wanted to play with the big stick. Hope understood as best as her 5-year-old mind could, but even after trying to have a good attitude and return to playing, the tears started to flow again. She wasn’t throwing a fit or yelling at Zoey; it was just pure, innocent sorrow that this tenderhearted 5-year-old girl was experiencing.

Instead of telling her that it was “just a stick” or that she could always get another stick, I let her climb up in my lap and softly cry as I held her. As much as I knew that this wasn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things and that she’d forget all about this “tragedy” within a day or two, I enjoyed the opportunity to just hold her close and comfort her as she cried.

As I held her for those few minutes, I wondered to myself if this is how our Heavenly Father feels with His children...

So often, we go through trials and heartbreak that are very real and very painful. But compared to an omnipotent God with an eternal view, it’s little more than a favorite stick getting broken. But even with that knowledge, God still welcomes His children to come to Him with their sorrow and pour out their heart and their tears to Him, our compassionate Father. He doesn’t scold us or scoff at our childish emotions; He just gently holds us and patiently listens to our every care.

Many people are familiar with David in the Old Testament. He was the young man who killed Goliath, the second king of Israel, and the one through whose lineage the Messiah would eventually come. But he was also a man who knew heartbreak and sorrow. In Psalm 22, David pours out his heart to God in distress and anguish. As you read through the chapter, you can witness the roller coaster of emotions that David had to work through. But as he comes to the end of the chapter, David reminds himself of his Heavenly Father’s tender, loving care, despite his circumstances.

“For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.” Psalms 22:24

Dear Christian, I don’t know what you’re going through, but God does. I don’t know what you’re struggling with, but God does. I don’t know what diagnosis you recently received, but God does. I don’t know what you weep over, but God does. God sees; God knows; God cares.

No matter what you’re going through and no matter how seemingly small it may be in the grand scheme of things, you can go to your Heavenly Father and pour out your heart and your tears to Him. After all, if a sinful earthly father can lovingly comfort his daughter about the loss of her favorite stick, how much more will our perfect Heavenly Father care for you and me?

Does Jesus Care

“Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?

Does Jesus care when I’ve said ‘goodbye’
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks,
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

O yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long night dreary,
I know my Savior cares.”

-Frank E. Graeff

“And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:5

True and Faithful is a weekly blog by Andrew Beadles. Subscribe to receive new posts.