Heart Ache

Yesterday was a day of disappointment for our teenage daughter.  Lauren competed in her favorite event of the entire school year - the FFA speech contest.  She had worked on her speech for a few months and memorized it quickly, as she usually does.  She woke up bright and early yesterday, all on her own, just to get ready for the event.  With confidence she left the house and met the group to drive to the competition.  Our next oldest, Zachary, was competing, too, but he wasn't as excited about it.  In fact, he's not too excited about any of those types of contests.  But, he participates, anyway.

After lunch I received a text from our daughter saying that Zachary placed 2nd, and that our school won the sweepstakes - meaning that our school had the most 1st and 2nd place winners of all.  To qualify to go on to the next level, most categories would only take 1st and 2nd place. 

Lauren didn't say what she did, so I texted back asking.  She placed 3rd.  So close, yet so far!  I told her that I was sorry, but encouraged her telling her she would do better next time - meaning next year.  But she's not wanting to do better next year.  She wanted to do better now!  Of course, and understandably so, she's extremely disappointed.  She didn't do as well as she even did last year and it's heartbreaking for her.  It is for her dad and I, too!  When your child is sad and upset it's hard to not be.

I know that this will all go away and she'll be just fine.  I am hopeful that she will try again next year and will be successful.  I also know that any time of loss - no matter how little or big - will help her grow.  But, I also know it still makes her sad and it makes my heart ache to see her disappointed.

This morning as I told Lauren goodbye for school and felt that same feeling for her, I immediately turned my thoughts to God.  As I thought about Jesus resolutely setting out for Jerusalem (Luke 9:51) and His Father knowing what was about to take place - that His Son was going to die on the cross - it makes me feel a little selfish.  I'm upset for my child because she missed the mark on a speech contest, yet He willingly offered His Son for the sins of the whole world?  Kind of puts things in perspective, doesn't it?  Of course, it does.  It doesn't take away the heart ache of the moment, but it easily shows that this will be a very temporary feeling and nothing that will last forever.

What are you going through today?  What kind of heart ache do you have, if any?  How does it feel to know that God loved you enough to give His Son to die for you?

All I can think to say is, "Thank you, God, for everything!"  And we all should remember to say that to Him each and every day.  As always, when we turn our thoughts to Him, everything just feels better.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17