I’ve had a little bit of back trouble since I was a teenager. It’s nothing serious, but every once in a while it’ll go out on me. I can usually get it to go back in place, but sometimes it’s a little ... stubborn.

One day my back went out and was stubborn about not going back in. No matter what I did, I couldn’t get it to go back into place. I tried lying on the floor. I tried hanging from Chloe and Cole’s monkey bars. I even considered letting one (or both) of them walk on my back.

I finally decided to soak in a hot bath to see if that would loosen the muscles enough to give me some relief. Cole was in the bathroom as I eased myself into the hot water. I winced on my way down, and he could tell I was in pain. Having just completed a bath of his own, he looked at me and said, "You want my ducky?"

Cole and Chloe each have these plastic ducks that you fill up with water, then you can pour the water out of their mouths. They’re cute, they’re fun, but I wasn’t in the mood.

I smiled. "No, that’s okay, son. I don’t need a ducky."

"No, Daddy," he said, patting his chest with his hand. "You want MY ducky?"

Well, that changed things, didn’t it? He wasn’t offering me any old ducky. He was offering me HIS ducky.

"Do you want me to have your ducky?" I asked him.

"Uh-huh."

"Okay. I’d love to have your ducky."

He ran out of the bathroom. Seconds later he returned, ducky in hand and a huge smile on his face. He was so happy to help me. He was so pleased to be able to give his toy to me.

It made me think of another gift I received when I was hurting and in need. The gift wasn’t a ducky, nor did it come from Cole. The gift came from God, and it was his only begotten son.

God didn’t look upon my sinful condition and offer me just any old son. He looked upon my sinful condition and offered me HIS son. He gave up his one and only son for me, to heal me of my sinfulness.

And when I received this gift? He rejoiced (Luke 15:6). Not only he rejoiced, but all of heaven rejoiced with him (Luke 15:7).

What God offered me, he also offers you. He offers you his son Jesus. And if you accept this gift, God and all of heaven will rejoice in your decision.