When my son was twenty-two, he suddenly became gravely ill and in horrendous pain while we were vacationing at our lake house over the 4th of July holiday.

The two-hour ride to the hospital was unbearable… for both of us. If I could have taken his place I would have.

Now fast-forward twelve years. I was fighting for my life in the ICU. My kidneys were shutting down and I was in septic shock. As my family stood by my bedside, my son leaned over and whispered, “I wish it was me instead of you, Mom.”

My son and I couldn’t trade places with each other. Life doesn’t work like that. No matter how much we love someone, we cannot take their pain from them. Only Jesus can do that. But Jesus did something that is even more wonderful than taking away our pain, sadness, and fear. He died for us.

Jesus’ love for us is so great that He traded places with us on the cross. He died for our sins so we wouldn’t have to. He moved us from death to life (John 5:24). Now, His resurrection and life are ours (John 11:25). All we have to do is accept them!

Thank You, Jesus, for this amazing gift!