Your sorrow itself shall be turned into joy. Not
the sorrow to be taken away, and joy to be put in
its place, but the very sorrow which now grieves
you shall be turned into joy. God not only takes
away the bitterness and gives sweetness in its place,
but turns the bitterness into sweetness itself.
CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON
Nadja and her younger brother and sister were adopted from Russia when she was five years old. Her adoptive parents brought them from a sad, lonely existence to a warm, loving, Christ-centered home. Adopting all three of them allowed the children to comfort each other as they learned the ways of this new world. And their new parents gave them unconditional love.
But about one year after they were adopted, they had to deal with a new loss. Their adoptive daddy died of cancer. Everyone was stricken with grief.
One day Nadja’s mom and uncle took the kids to see some golden retriever puppies. They ran all over the yard playing with their new four-footed friends, everyone smiling once again. They were told this was just a visit, but they could come back someday soon. Then they went back to their uncle’s home for dinner.
Nadja’s mom and uncle said they had to go to the store for something and would be right back. They left the children with other family members. When they returned, something was wriggling under Uncle’s shirt. Out came a happy, squirming golden retriever puppy—just for them. Now it was their turn to adopt. Rosie became a beloved member of the family.
Their new dog proved a great addition. They were joyful once more as they played with Rosie, hugged her, and cuddled with her while they read or watched TV. Rosie was a great comfort to Nadja. When sadness or loneliness swept her soul, she invited Rosie up on her lap. They would sit together as Nadja held her close. Rosie’s canine love was not a replacement for Nadja’s father, but it helped tremendously to fill the huge hole that had been left first by the loss of her birth parents, and then by the death of her American dad who loved her so very much.
Nadja had some tough times growing up. But her American mom was there for her and her brother and sister. Mom loved them dearly and also taught them about Jesus’s love, which is infinitely greater even than her own.
Part of that love involved discipline. Nadja learned about obedience from both her mom and her dog. Rosie wasn’t too good at minding the children, but when Mom came into the room Rosie ran to her, sat down, and waited for instruction. She knew Mom was boss. She also learned that if she was obedient, doggie biscuits were in her near future.
Nadja’s mom enrolled the children in a private Christian school where I was teaching at the time. She hoped it would help them adjust to their new culture more easily and also learn more about the love of Jesus. I had Nadja in my class. At one of the chapel services, the school presented all three kids with an American flag that had been flown over the White House. Their mom was so pleased. She hugged us with tears in her eyes.
That was about twelve years ago. Lately I’ve been going to a special pool to swim for therapeutic exercise. The other day I was introduced to a new swim coach. She was tall, slender, and beautiful and her name was Nadja. I looked at her and had to ask, “Are you from Russia?” She said yes. Then I asked if she had gone to Heritage Christian School. She had. I told her I was Mrs. Fleishauer, her third grade teacher. She gasped, “Oh my gosh! Yes you are!”
You just don’t expect to see your third grade teacher in a swimsuit. We had switched roles. Now she was my instructor. It was obvious to me as we talked that Nadja had grown up not just physically, but spiritually as well. She shared with me that she had a personal relationship with the Lord and would soon be attending a Christian college.
I know Rosie was a great instrument of comfort for Nadja’s family. Nadja was really little then, but she remembers how much she loved Rosie and that Rosie loved her. She recalls how comforting it was to have Rosie close to her when she was frightened or lonely. But, like her birth parents and her American dad, Rosie wouldn’t be around to do that for her forever.
Jesus will! Nadja’s relationship with Rosie was like a prelude in a very small way to how she felt when she accepted Jesus as her personal Savior. She accepted God’s invitation to sit in His lap of comfort and strength, and she can go there always.
Many centuries ago, the apostle Paul also had some tough times. He suffered horrible persecution and severe physical hardships for his faith. But he also found great comfort in God’s lap. That’s why he could write, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
God invites all who will come to climb on His lap and receive His comfort and goodness. Paul and Nadja said yes. Have you?
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life (Psalm 119:50).
What persons or pets have been most comforting to you in tough times? How did they make you feel better? How has God been a source of comfort and strength?