Dads want to protect, provide and “fix things.” But what can fathers do when there are things they cannot fix?

From time-to-time during his childhood, Christopher would get himself into trouble, as sons do. There was always a certain look on his face as he would say, “Dad...?”

I would respond, “What’s wrong, Topher?” And I was always able to somehow fix it.

That’s what dads do—we fix things.

Sure, we are there to encourage and nurture, but moms do that so much better. Dads want to protect, provide, and “fix things.”

But I cannot “fix” this. I cannot bring him back.

I can do everything in my power to help his wife, his daughter, and his baby to come, and I will. But I cannot help Christopher at all.

Then again, he really does not need Dad’s help this time. He is now with his heavenly Father who, needless to say, is doing a much better job than his earthly one could ever do.

He is “fixed.”

I was always concerned about Christopher’s safety and security (as I am with all of my family). He is now more safe and secure than he has ever been, in the “everlasting arms.”

The fact of the matter is, I am the one that needs the help now. I am looking to God, my Heavenly Father, and effectively saying, “Dad...?”

His reply? “What’s wrong, Greg?”

He cries when I do

It is actually a source of comfort to me to know that Jesus weeps. He wept at the tomb of Lazarus, and He weeps with me and every person who has ever had a loved one leave them through death.

It breaks His heart, just as it breaks ours.

Scripture also reminds us that God keeps our “tears in a bottle:”

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book” (Psalm 56:8 NLT)

When Christopher and I were in an antiquities store in Jerusalem this year on our Israel tour, we came across what is known as a “tear bottle.” It dates back 2,000 years, and it was a beautiful blue color.

The man who ran the shop said the Romans kept their tears in these bottles. So we took a photo of it, and I told Christopher about the passage I just quoted.

Now I have my own tear bottle. Not on earth, but in heaven.