On Easter day this year my husband was giving gripe water in a dropper to our gassy 5 week old son. Our little guy got some of the gripe water in an airway and started to gag. Seeing him coughing and gasping for air made both mine and my husband's hearts stop. It was beyond terrifying seeing our baby struggling for air. My husband and I would have done ANYTHING to help him.
After my son stopped coughing and caught his breath my husband looked at me with fear still in his eyes and said, "I would die for that little guy... I'd do anything for him!" Both our hearts were racing. We were relieved but so shaken up by the incident. The thought of losing our son, the most amazing thing that's ever happened to either of us, the most beautiful person we've ever laid eyes on, our little miracle; it was unbearable.
Suddenly I had an entirely new outlook on Easter, the crucifixion, and the sacrifice. I've always looked at the crucifixion as Jesus' sacrifice. There's always been a bit of disconnect for me with, "God so loved the world HE GAVE His only begotten son..." There's always been a tiny bit of wondering somewhere in me. I'm thankful for the gift that Jesus gave but, "what did God really do?"
After my husband exclaimed, "I would die for that little guy," I realized the answer to my lifelong inward wondering. For my sake and yours God chose to watch His only begotten Son in the greatest of agony. He watched Him suffer and die when as most every parent knows it would have been easier if He, the heavenly Father could have taken the place of His Son and died Himself. I never understood this before. I couldn't even begin to imagine the pain of making and enduring such a decision as letting my son suffer and die for someone else's sake. God could have so easily spared Jesus from the pain but He chose to let His Son suffer for the rest of us. That's a painful sacrifice.
All I can say is "Thank you God for the amazing gift you gave!"
