俯身同行的愛 The Love That Walks Alongside Us

By Cathy Chen

下午和幾對同樣有孩子的好友聊天。

談話間，我們回顧身為父母，看著孩子處於暴風雨時，其實自己很難站在旁邊，安然當一名第三者。即使我們生活算安穩順遂，只要想到孩子正在經歷那些掙扎，心還是會揪結起來。

聊天的過程中，我留意到一個很有意思的現象。很多父母面對孩子的難處時，都很願意坦承自己年輕時類似的掙扎，甚至會重新揭開那些不為人知的脆弱和無助。好像這樣做，就能讓自己更靠近孩子，也讓孩子知道：原來他（她）不是孤單一個人在承受。

回家的路上，我反覆咀嚼這份父母心腸，發現那裡面有一股很深的渴望，像是在向孩子傳遞：

「我懂你的難處，因為這條路我也走過。我走過來了，神也會幫助你走過去。我願意陪著你走。」

想到這裡，我忽然驚覺：這不正是基督耶穌愛我們的方式嗎？

保羅寫道：

「他本有神的形像，不以自己與神同等為強奪的；反倒虛己，取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式。」（腓立比書 2:6–7）

基督本可以高高在上，卻選擇走進人的世界，道成肉身，成為我們中的一員。

希伯來書也說：

「因我們的大祭司並非不能體恤我們的軟弱；他也曾凡事受過試探，與我們一樣，只是他沒有犯罪。」（希伯來書 4:15）

有一種愛，不只是從高處伸出援手，而是甘願走進另一個人的處境。或許，這就是十字架最令人費解，卻也最動人的地方。

從人的理性角度來看，神似乎沒有必要受苦，十字架甚至顯得愚拙。然而，當我把它放進親子關係裡去思想，許多原本想不通的地方，卻慢慢有了答案。

愛，讓人明明知道艱難，卻仍然願意向另一個人靠近；近到一個地步，甘願與他同哭、同行，甚至為他付上代價。

如果有一天，一個孩子能透過父母的愛，看見基督的愛，那是何等大的恩典；然而，即使人的愛有缺欠，基督對我們的愛卻從未改變。

禱告

主啊，謝謝祢。因為祢沒有站在遠處愛我們，而是親自來到我們中間，與我們同行。

求祢賜給我們智慧，學習這樣去愛人，陪伴他們一起走向祢。也願孩子們透過這份愛，認識祢那不離不棄的愛。

奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。

July 17, 2026

The Love That Walks Alongside Us

By Cathy Chen

This afternoon, I spent some time talking with several close friends who are also parents.

As we reflected on our children, we all shared the same feeling: when your child is caught in the middle of a storm, it is almost impossible to simply stand by as a detached observer. Even when life is relatively peaceful for us, our hearts still ache whenever we see our children struggling.

During our conversation, I noticed something beautiful. Many parents, when faced with their children’s difficulties, are surprisingly willing to share similar struggles from their own younger years. They are even willing to reopen old wounds, revealing moments of weakness and helplessness that few people know about. Perhaps it’s their way of drawing closer to their children and letting them know, “You’re not carrying this burden alone.”

On my drive home, I kept reflecting on what we had talked about. Slowly, I began to realize there was a deep longing in every parent’s heart. It was as though every parent longed to say,

“I understand what you’re going through because I’ve walked this road before. God has brought me through it, and He will help you through it as well. I’ll walk with you.”

Then a thought suddenly struck me:

Isn’t this exactly how Christ Jesus loves us?

Paul writes,

“Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity.” (Philippians 2:6–7)

Christ could have remained high above us, yet He chose to enter our world. He became flesh and dwelt among us.

Hebrews also reminds us,

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

There is a kind of love that does more than reach down from above. It willingly steps into another person’s circumstances. Perhaps this is what makes the cross both so mysterious and so beautiful.

From a human perspective, it may seem that God had no reason to suffer, and the cross even appears foolish. Yet as I reflected on it through the lens of a parent’s love, many things that once puzzled me slowly began to make sense.

Love knows how difficult the journey will be, yet it still chooses to draw near. It comes close enough to weep with another person, walk beside them, and even bear the cost for them.

If one day a child is able to see the love of Christ through the love of his or her parents, what an incredible gift of grace that is. Yet even when human love falls short, Christ’s love for us never changes.

Prayer

Lord, thank You that in Christ You did not remain distant, but entered our weakness so that You might truly sympathize with us.

Please shape our love after Yours, that we would draw near to others with patience and compassion, walking with them as You have walked with us. May children come to know Your unfailing love through the love they receive from others, and may they ultimately discover the love of Christ that never leaves them.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

July 17, 2026