As any parent can tell you, when your child has a high fever, it is pretty scary, especially when it will not come down. The last thing in the world any parent wants to do is to put a hot child in a cool bath to take their temperature down. I remember many times running the bath, starting out with lukewarm water and gradually adding cooler water. A child who is already shivering is made even more uncomfortable sitting in cold water. One of the things that usually happened when my kids had to take this "polar plunge" was that their dad would roll up his pant legs and sit on the edge of the tub with his legs in the cool water. He would comfort them and try to keep them in the much-needed cool bath until the fever started to come down. It seemed that when they saw their dad in the water with them, it wasn't so bad. He would gently pour water on their hot little bodies from his cupped hand. Finally, their temperature would come down, and they would be ready to be put back into bed.

As God looked down from heaven upon His children, He could see that they were suffering from sin. So, He sent Jesus to roll up His pant legs and step into our cold world. He suffered what we suffered and enjoyed what we enjoy. He grimaced with a belly ache, but smiled over the newness of a puppy. He understood temptation, and He knew what it was like to get angry. He celebrated weddings and grieved at funerals. He had a mom and an earthly father. He had siblings and all that comes with family life. I'm sure that He had aunts that kissed him when He didn't want them to and uncles who wrestled with Him. He got splinters in His fingers from the carpenter shop, and on occasion, I'm sure, He hit His finger with the hammer. He came to our world knowing that He would have to die for our sins, but He did it because of His love for us. He became a man so that we could see the love of the Father.

Hebrews 4:15 – This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses since he had the same temptations we do, though he never once gave way to them and sinned. (TLB)

My kids have grown up now, so Larry doesn't need to sit knee-deep in cold water. But many times, I know that he and I wish that life could be as simple now as it was then. As parents, we still want to climb into our kids' world and cheer them on. As much as we would love to bring them comfort, nothing can compare with knowing that the heavenly Father rolls up His pant legs and sits down to comfort His children as only He can.

Have you experienced that kind of compassion from your heavenly Father?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for joining the human race as God's dear Son to suffer as we do. Father in heaven, we, Your children, praise You for the great love that You show us day after day. Amen.

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About the author:

Jeanie Nihiser <jnihiserj@gmail.com>
Geneseo, New York, USA
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