It's touching what new parents do to establish a relationship with their newborn baby.  Mothers talk and sing to their children while still in the womb.  They introduce them to music, to soft sounds and cooing, in order to acquaint them with what Mama's voice sounds like.  Once born, mothers and fathers tearfully introduce themselves to their baby.  Many birthing rooms in hospitals have recorded the same kinds of messages.  "Hi sweetheart.  I'm your mom, I'm your dad."  Oh, what we do instinctively to make a connection. 

    The child's future, and how well he flourishes in his world, will depend on the quality of the relationship his parents make with him.  Mom and Dad will be instrumental to give him a view of himself, to teach him how the world works and how he fits into it, and to communicate the boundaries of his life so that he lives with others respectfully.  If there is a poor parental environment, that child will grow up with a distorted sense of himself, who authority figures are, and how God fits into his life.  He might even be dangerous to other people, not able to make relationships that are positive and healthy. 

    Because every human being is flawed, every childhood suffers, even the ones that look almost picture perfect.  God is the only perfect Father and He also went to great lengths to establish a connection with us.  He offered up the life His only Son.  Jesus died and made it possible for us to find our way home to Father God.  Once I accepted God's invitation for salvation, a new parenting relationship began.  I am being 'reparented' by the One who is constantly reaching out to make me aware of His presence.  He re-instructs me in the ways I received distorted messages from my first set of parents.  Wherever there was error, He corrects my beliefs and sets me on a course that has a firm foundation.  Why study the Bible?  It is a life-line to my Father and the way He speaks to me.

    Jesus' difficult message to someone as educated and prestigious as Nicodemus must have been a stumbling block to him.  None of us are quick to recognize where our earthly parents were human so that we can recognize the beauty and necessity of a second birth.  We need God to grace us with the eyes to see Him for who He is and to recognize our need for Him.

    Those of us with adult children can enumerate our failures as parents.  We know, most likely, where we gave them distorted messages.  Pain was the result.  What is the cure?  We can certainly ask them for forgiveness but ultimately, they need a relationship with a new Father in order to thrive.  Forgiveness is not enough because it does not heal much.  Our prayers need to be centered on strengthening their God-connection so that God can heal whatever they suffered because of life at our hands and the hands of others.  He is the healer of parents and the healer of their children.