"WHAT IS BEST"

"Parents who desire to demonstrate true love to their children will put aside their own emotions for the sake of the child." - Gary Ezzo

As I came across this statement in my reading, it jumped out at me. It is referring to parents who allow their babies to fuss themselves to sleep instead of holding and rocking them all the time. I know from experience that it is one of the hardest things to do. As a first-time parent, my heart breaks when I lay Katelyn down and she cries herself to sleep, and sometimes it's hard for me to understand that she's not dying in there even though it sounds like it. But I know that it is best for Katelyn for her to learn to go to sleep on her own. And I must do what I must do.

This statement did not, however, remind me of my duties as a parent. It brought to mind the Garden of Gethsemane and the battle fought there over will. Jesus did not want to go to the cross. He did not desire to suffer horrific pain and die. So why did He do it?

Jesus was looking down the road at the future. He was thinking of me and doing what was best for me. He put his own feelings aside and died for me. He did what he had to do.

I am also reminded of when Jesus was on the cross and He cried out to God, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" And God turned his back. I'm sure that God wanted to go get Jesus off the cross and hold Him and comfort Him, just as I want to get Katelyn out of her bed and rock her and comfort her. But God did what was best, just like I must do.

Now I am not trying to trivialize the sufferings of Jesus or the cross in any way. I know that dying on a cross is much more serious or important than putting a baby down to sleep. But Bro. Terry has always told us that God is touched with the feelings of our infirmities and knows how we feel. Well, I feel like I'm forsaking my child when I let her cry herself to sleep, but I can find comfort in knowing that God did what was best, and with his help, I can do the same.

There are also times when I feel as if God has forsaken me. When God is trying to teach me something or show me myself, I sometimes feel like I am all alone. I may even cry out to God and ask Him to take this away from me. But God knows what is best. He knows that there are things I must learn and that the only way for me to learn is to endure. I know God hears my cry, and He has the power to take me out of the situation. He might even want to hold me and rock me. But if I'd quit my whining and crying, I just might learn something, and God knows that. He can see the future, and He knows what is best for me.

Thank you, God, for being a loving parent. Please help me demonstrate true love to my daughter.

-Diana Fuqua