It is a special kind of hell when your own child rebels, makes terrible choices, and hurts your family. You sit in church and feel everyone judging your parenting. Look at King David. His son Absalom was terrible. Absalom literally staged a violent coup, slept with his father's concubines in public, and sent an army to murder David. But in 2 Samuel 18, when David’s army finally defeats and kills Absalom, David doesn't celebrate the victory. He completely falls apart. He goes up to the chamber over the gate and weeps, crying out, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son! Would I had died instead of you!" The absolute, agonizing, unconditional love of a parent for a broken child. It makes me realize that no matter how far we run, God’s heart breaks for us in the exact same way. #ProdigalSon #ChristianParenting #2Samuel #GriefAndGrace #UnconditionalLove