Forever Changed

I can remember the day, the morning -- the moment -- like it was yesterday.  Thirty one years ago today my son was born.  The events of that morning are etched into my memory with the indelible ink of a mother's love.

I remember his giggling face as a toddler, with that blonde hair like his dad had when he was young.  I remember the tender-hearted little boy.  I remember watching cross-country races and cub scout derby matches.  I remember broken windows, baseball bats and a hockey puck that just happened to hit his little sister's face.

At 17, our son joined the USMC.  Believing it to be the Lord's will, we signed the early entry papers, committing  him to his chosen lot.  In tears, we watched him leave for Parris Island in a van driven by recruiters.  

The boy that left that day never returned.  A man came home in his place.

I love my son and I am immensely proud of him.  But like all mothers, I suppose, I miss the little boy that was.  I see glimpses of him in his son, whom I love dearly as well, but my little boy is gone forever.

Before His earthly incarnation, the Lord Jesus lived in a perfect, harmonious union with God the Father and God the Spirit.  The wonder and glory of that first family can never be known by those of us who wear the mantle of humanity.

When the Lord Jesus came to be born of Mary, He willingly took upon Himself that mantle and has forever been changed.  The Lord Jesus which ascended into heaven after His resurrection was the God/Man Christ Jesus.  He will forever bear the marks of His sacrifice for us and will forever bear that mantle of Man.  He became one of us forever.  The Holy Trinity is still intact, but it is forever different.

The sacrifices my son has known as a Marine are known most clearly only within his own heart.  His family knows somewhat of his sufferings and hardships in his mission to defend the Constitution, but we can never fully know their extent.

As children of our heavenly Father, those who have trusted in Christ Jesus, we can know somewhat of His sacrifice, sufferings and hardships, but we can never fully know the cost of our salvation.  The Father and the Spirit know, however, that all eternity is changed because "He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him," (2 Corinthians 5:21.)