by Linda Fisher

Over the decades of my life, the orphan has always pulled at my heart. Children whose parents were killed in war. A mother without the resources to raise her child. A child removed from home for their own protection. Whether in Disney movies or missionary stories, these accounts always left me in tears. Many tissues required.

This past summer, I was struck by another “orphan” passage—though not about orphans at all. Reading Matthew 3:16–17, I was unexpectedly moved to tears—and even to envy:

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’”

I’ve read these verses many times, but this time something jolted my heart. I read and reread them, amazed at the beauty and power of the Father’s words to His Son. Jesus obeyed, was baptized by John, and in that moment God declared to all who were present:

“Look! Listen! This is my Son. I love Him. I am so proud of Him!”

Can you feel the Father’s pride and joy in His Son?

As I read, tears streamed down my face. Because I realized—I never once heard my earthly father say, “I love you. I’m pleased with you. You are my daughter.” For years I longed to hear those words. I searched for them in the wrong places, expecting imperfect people to fill the ache of a love they could never fully give.

But that morning on my patio, in the cool of the summer air, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper to my heart:
“Daughter, you are mine. I am proud of you. I love you. Because of my Son Jesus, you will live with me forever, and I will be your Father.”

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Friend, sin has wounded us all. Many of us carry hurts from parents who failed us in their humanity. And truth be told, we all fail—sinning against our children, our spouses, and our neighbors. Yet into this mess, God’s grace enters.

That’s why we must live lives of repentance and take every opportunity to affirm those around us—with both words and actions. In our homes, in our Bethany family, and in our community, let’s speak love, belonging, and truth. And let’s open our hearts wide to receive God’s love, thanking Jesus for the gift of salvation that makes us His beloved sons and daughters.

Jesus said in John 15:9, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”

To remain means to continue, to endure, to persist—even when everything else falls away. Just as God redeemed the world through the sacrifice of Jesus, He can also redeem the brokenness left by our deepest wounds.

Never forget this: Jesus loves us just as the Father loves Him.