There was fear in my wife’s voice as I talked with her on the phone. “Our son just fell on the ice in the pond, and it looks as though he has broken his arm!” she exclaimed. The neighborhood boys had a day off from school, and they decided to put on their ice skates and play hockey. One of our sons took a swing at the puck and lost his balance. As a result, he landed on his right arm against the frozen surface.

            My wife opened the door as he stood there shivering, pointing to his right arm. Sure enough, his right arm wasn’t straight any more. She immediately picked up the phone and called me. I rushed home so that I could take my son to the emergency room. I could see tears in his eyes. His arm hurt!

            All those of us with children dread those moments when we see our children suffer. Parents with children who have chronic diseases know this more than the rest of us. We sometimes run out of words to comfort our children, but we still feel the pain that they are going through.

            As adoptive parents, we passed one milestone when our sons started to believe that we truly commiserated with them. This was more than simply feeling sorry for them in their situation. They wanted to know that we truly empathized with them. It was important to them that we felt their pain.

            Our Heavenly Father does not simply feel sorrow when we have pain. He knows everything we are going through, both good and bad. He challenges us to trust Him in the difficult times because He understands first-hand the pain we have. His Son Jesus Christ endured affliction both for us and to leave us an example (1 Peter 2:21). He felt every sting we do, and knows our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9). As a result, He not only empathizes with His children, but He is able to truly comfort them (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). He is the perfect adoptive Father who understands all that we go through, not a distant and unapproachable God who wanted to love us but remains aloof.

            Our children need to know that both we and their Heavenly Father are touched by all that they endure. A hug, a positive word, and a laugh sometimes share encouragement in the midst of pain. He sees and feels all our tears, and the day is coming when He will wipe all of them away (Revelation 21:4).

            What is one experience that you have had that helped you know that you (as parent) truly empathized with your child, or you (as child) knew that your parents really cared about your pain? Please share this in the comment box below.