welcome to today's encouragement from our daily bread our reading today titled a compassionate father was written by Marvin Williams
 after eight year old Gabriel underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his brain it left a noticeable scar on the side of his head when the boy said he felt like a monster is Dad Josh had an idea demonstrate how much he loved his son by getting a tattoo on the side of his head with the same shape as Gabriel scar
 according to the psalmist this is the kind of empathic and compassionate love God has for his children using a metaphor drawn from human life David Illustrated God's love he said it's as tender as a good Father's care for his children just as a human father shows compassion to his children so God our heavenly father shows love and care towards those who fear Him he's a compassionate father who empathizes with his people when we are weak and feel like we are unlovable because of the scars of life may we receive by faith our Heavenly Father's Love toward us he demonstrated his compassion by sending his son to lay down his life for us for our salvation
 with this one act not only can we experience God's love for us but we can look to the cross and see it aren't you glad that we have a high priest who can empathize with our weaknesses and he has the scars to prove it
 today's our daily bread devotional scripture reading is taken from Psalm 103 verses 13 through 18
 as a father has compassion on his children so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him or he knows how we are formed he remembers that we are dust the life of Mortals just like grass they flourish like a flower of the field the wind blows over it and it is gone and its place remembers it no more but from Everlasting to Everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear Him and his righteousness with their children's children with those who keep his Covenant and remember to obey his precepts
 let's pray heavenly father thank you for your compassionate love and identifying with our pain please Lord use our scars For Your Glory and it's in your name that we pray amen
 thanks for listening today my name is Wes Ward and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries