our daily bread
Dexu Xia
Fathers and Sons
He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Malachi 4:6 esv
My father was a good father, and, in most respects, I was a dutiful son. But I allowed my father to starve for the one thing I could have given him: myself.
He was a quiet man; I was equally silent. We often worked for hours side-by-side with scarcely a word passing between us. He never asked; I never told him my deepest desires and dreams, my hopes and fears.
In time I woke up to my reticence. Perhaps the perception came when my first son was born, or when, one by one, my sons went out into the world. Now I wish I had been more of a son to my father.
I think of all the things I could have told him. And all the things he could have told me. At his funeral I stood beside his casket, struggling to understand my emotions. “It’s too late, isn’t it?” my wife said quietly. “Exactly.”
My comfort lies in the fact that we’ll be able to set things right in heaven, for is that not where every tear will be wiped away? (Revelation 21:4).
For believers in Jesus, death is not the end of affection but the beginning of timeless existence in which there will be no more misunderstandings; relationships will be healed and love will grow forever. There, the hearts of sons will turn to their fathers and the hearts of fathers to their sons (Malachi 4:6).
Father, thank You for forgiving me and allowing me to experience a restored relationship with You. Help me to seek reconciliation in my broken relationships and deeper connections with others close to me even as I await the healing that will come in Your presence.
In God’s power and love, draw closer to others while there’s time.
父与子
他必使父亲的心转向儿女，儿女的心转向父亲。-玛拉基书4章6节
我有一位好父亲，而从各方面来看，我也是个尽责的儿子。但我们的关系并不亲密，我从未向他倾吐心声。
我父亲很沉默，我也同样寡言。我们经常并肩工作数小时，却难得讲一句话。他从来不问，我也从未告诉他，我最深的渴望与梦想、我的希望与害怕。
后来我终于从自己的沉默中醒悟过来。我开始有这样的感受，可能是在大儿子出生的时候，也可能是因为儿子们接二连三出世，让我有这种感觉。我但愿自己能对父亲敞开，做个更贴心的儿子。
在父亲的丧礼上，我站在他的棺木旁边，想到有许多事都应该告诉他，以及有许多事他本来可以告诉我。我试着厘清自己的情绪，妻子轻轻地说：“太迟了，是不是？”“没错。”我回应。
但有一件事实让我感到欣慰，将来在天家我们再也不会有遗憾，因我们的眼泪在那里都会被擦去（启示录21章4节）。
对相信耶稣的人来说，死亡并非情感的终点，而是永生的起点。在那里，不再有误会、关系得到恢复，并且爱要不断地增长；在那里，父亲的心转向儿女，儿女的心转向父亲（玛拉基书4章6节）。
天父，谢谢祢饶恕我，让我与祢的关系得着修复。
在我正等待见祢面，得到完全的医治时，
帮助我努力修复破碎的关系，并与亲人的关系更亲密。