Longing for God, Longing for Mama and Daddy
A hometown friend recently wrote about her longing for her parents’ counsel. Her father passed away in 2021 and her mother only a couple of months ago. I was deeply moved by her words:
At times, a parental guiding light is what you crave, and when they’re no longer with us, the journey can be tough; yet, even with a loving spouse, grown children, and grandkids by your side, feelings of solitude can still emerge.
I have heard our deep need for God described as a God-sized hole. I do believe that God created us with a “hole” inside us that only He can fill.
Over the centuries, we humans have tried idols, money, possessions, causes, even pets to make us feel whole. Substitutes never satisfy our longing. They never fill the God-sized hole.
After many years of living life and of observing others, I have come to believe that God also created us with a mama-sized hole and a daddy-sized hole. My friend is right. Even with a loving spouse, grown children, and grandkids by your side—and I would add, even with God in your heart—when your parents are gone, feelings of solitude can still emerge.
These feelings do not mean that something is amiss with your relationship with God. They simply mean that those mama-and-daddy-sized holes are empty now. God is here to comfort you and take care of you, but the empty holes are still there. Those holes are evidence of God’s love. They are reminders to be thankful for the wonderful gift of parental love and care.
Mama, Daddy, and the kids—that’s God’s idea. Cherish every once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fill your children’s mama-sized hole and to help them to welcome God into His place in their lives. Cherish your days with your mamas and daddies, too, for as long as God gives you those blessings.
As Paul told the people of Athens in his sermon on Mars Hill:
. . . and He made from one man
every nation of mankind
to live on all the face of the earth,
having determined their appointed times
and the boundaries of their habitation,
that they would seek God,
if perhaps they might grope for Him
and find Him,
though He is not far from each one of us;
for in Him we live and move and exist,
as even some of your own poets have said,
‘For we also are His children.’
Acts 17:26-28