”Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” – Psalm 27:10

There are some losses that seem too deep for words. It’s now nine days since I joined the “Parentless Club.” My lovely wife Cathy joined it 30 years ago after her mother died. And I must confess that I have sometimes been a bit less than understanding of her emotions, chalking it up to being female whereas tough guys like me are immune to such things. My own mother died 7 years ago and now with my Dad’s death 9 days ago I freely admit I was wrong. The loss of one parent is hard enough, but once both are gone you immediately sense a change in the universe. The absence of both a mother’s gentle voice or a father’s strong embrace leaves a space in the heart that feels impossible to fill. With both parents gone, the world can feel unfamiliar, even unsafe. Who will care for me now? Who will hold my future? And while I’m “all grown up and on my own” now, with no parents out there backing me up, “on my own” takes on a new depth of meaning. For those who have only known one parent I can only imagine the depth of feeling that descends immediately when they are gone.

Of course as a Pastor one of the things I encourage my parishioners to do in such times is to think theologically. Now I have to follow my own advice. The Psalm above may not be the perfect text for this situation, but then the Bible never specifically mentions the loss of both one’s parents. At the same time, however, the Bible never ignores this pain either. In fact, it speaks directly to it. Again and again, God calls Himself a “Father to the fatherless” (Psalm 68:5). He doesn’t just send help—He becomes family. Where earthly parents cannot go, God remains. He is near. He is constant.

God sees me (and you)—not as an afterthought, not as someone overlooked, but as someone deeply loved. He invites me (and you) into a new family, not based on biology, but on belonging. Through Jesus Christ, we are adopted into God’s household. We are not in fact alone, but cherished. Not abandoned, but claimed.

And not only that—God places His people in our life to help carry this love: mentors, friends, caregivers, family, even the church itself. They are not a replacement of course, but a wonderful reminder that God is still writing my story and yours.

Remember this today:
We may have lost our parents, but we have not lost our worth or our identity. We are still someone’s child. We are God’s child.

He receives us. He walks with us. He will never leave us.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, You know my sorrow and see the emptiness in my heart. Thank You for receiving me when I feel lost and alone. Thank You for being a Father to the fatherless and a protector of those with no one else. Fill my heart with Your love. Remind me that I belong to You and that You have a good plan for my life. Help me trust You with my grief, and walk forward with courage, knowing I am neither alone nor forgotten.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.