There was a young woman named Sarah who was raised as a princess. Her father was the king of a great land. He was very wealthy, and she was well educated. At the age of 22, having finished college and not being married, she moved to New York City in America to make her own way in the world.
She was close to her family and remained in contact with them. While she searched for a job, they supported her financially, and when she called to tell them she had been hired as a research assistant for a large publishing company, they were happy for her. Being financially stable on her own within a few weeks, she asked them to stop sending her money, and the weekly wire-transfers ceased.
Many years passed. Along the way, Sarah found a man to share her life with, and they were married. They had two children. She climbed the ladder of success in the publishing world and became an editor, and she balanced career and family. She was busy, didn’t get a lot of sleep, and went from one day to the next with a familiar kind of monotony, but she was her own woman, doing what she had left her homeland to do, and she was happy, as happy as she could imagine ever being.
When her youngest child was five years old, Sarah’s husband became very sick. After many medical tests and doctor’s exams, his condition remained a mystery. Nevertheless he was sick and couldn’t work for several months. Eventually he lost his job and his share of the family income. With a hefty mortgage to pay on their New York condo, Sarah called her father and asked if he could help them out. He agreed without hesitation, and the money was wired to their account that very day, and once a month until her husband got better, was able to get his job back, and began bringing in a steady income once again. When she called her father to let him know they no longer needed his help, the monthly support stopped, and life returned to normal.
About a year later another crisis came. This time her job was in jeopardy, as her publishing company was facing tough financial times and several editors were let go to downsize things. After twelve years with the company, Sarah was suddenly unemployed in a city where other similar businesses were in the same boat, and finding another job took two years. During that time, she enjoyed quality time with her husband and children she hadn’t had been able to fit into her schedule before, and with her father’s money to help them out once again, they didn’t experience financial hardship.
Returning to work as an editor with a publishing company she had once only dreamed of working for, Sarah could see that losing her job originally had been a blessing in disguise. They hadn’t just survived the difficult time but actually thrived, and her new job was better than the one she’d had before.
A few years later her husband got sick again, and in just two months he was gone. Sarah became a widow at the age of forty with two children to care for on her own. She knew if she sold their upscale condo and moved into a smaller place in a less desirable neighborhood, she could support her family on one income, but she loved their home and didn’t want to leave where she had spent so many happy years with her husband, nor did she want to uproot the children from everything that was familiar to them.
Her parents made the journey from their homeland to attend the funeral and remained for another week to have time with their daughter and grandchildren, providing emotional support during the difficult days. The evening before they were scheduled to leave, Sarah broke down with the burden of the challenges and changes that lay before her. She had silently decided to sell the condo and move them to a new place, not feeling certain where they would go but feeling like it was her only option.
“What is this talk?” her father asked. “Why are you talking about not having the money to remain here?”
She looked at him and waited for an explanation.
“Don’t you remember your childhood and how we cared for all of your needs until you moved here and were able to support yourself? Don’t you remember when your husband was sick and we wired you money to meet your expenses until he was better? How many months was that?”
“Six,” she replied.
“And when you lost your job and we sent you money so you wouldn’t have to move then? How long was that?”
“Two years.”
“Do you still not understand that we are always here for you no matter what?”
She felt humbled by their generosity, but she knew she shouldn’t be surprised. Had they ever let her down? Had they ever left her to fend for herself when she was in need? Had her father been the one to withhold anything from her during the times of prosperity, or had she been the one to stop receiving when she could provide for herself?
More tears escaped her eyelids, but this time they weren’t from an overwhelming burden caused by difficult circumstances. They were simply tears of gratitude and a realization that she was so loved and could always count on the care of her father. She could deny his generosity whenever she didn’t have the need or was too proud to receive it, but he could never turn his heart from however she needed him.
This parable was inspired by the words of Jesus in Mark 8:14-21. If you are facing tough financial times or have other burdens that are weighing you down, I encourage you to read these precious and poignant words of our loving Savior and allow them to bring you peace today.
