Sacrificial Bonds

As is often the case, I entered the ward this morning with a heavy heart, expecting to be met with the news of Rick Thomas' death. Instead I spotted his mother's canary-yellow startling dress, and saw her combing her hair. I reasoned she would only be doing so if he was alive . . and peaked around the corner. There sat his father, holding Rick Thomas (pronounced Licky Tomasi). I RARELY see a father sitting on a patients' bed holding a child, especially not if the mother is also present and could be doing it. It struck me that his life-saving gift of blood also served to bond him to the child. I was amazed. The little boy was barely breathing yesterday, limp, bleeding from the rectum. Today he was alert and interactive, wanting to eat and drink! That is how love is. A parent's sacrifice only serves to make him more attached, more invested. A parent does not blame or resent the child for being needy, but in filling that need deepens in love for the child. A good parent, at least. And this is a very real picture of God's love for us. He poured out His own blood to save our lives, and now He wants to hold us on His lap.