Beneath the SurfaceSample

Humpback whales are some of the fiercest and most protective mothers in the animal kingdom. In fact, a humpback whale mother will stop eating almost entirely when she has kids. Almost all the food she finds goes to her calves (calves are what scientists call whale babies).

This is a big sacrifice on the part of the whale mom. Humpback whales are about 50 feet long. When you're that big, you need to eat a lot of food. But whales love their babies and when you love someone, you make sacrifices for them. In fact, humpback whale moms can lose as much as a third of their body weight while taking care of their kids. That's love.

If a humpback whale can be counted on to do whatever it takes to protect her children, how much more will God do to protect us? The Bible calls us children of God, and God has always done what it takes to protect us. Nothing — not even death on a cross — was too big of a sacrifice.

God does a lot more than protect and provide for us. Today's Scripture reading says that God is also transforming us into something wonderful. That's what good parents do for their kids: They help us grow into the people we're supposed to be.

When you're feeling alone and unsafe, you can take comfort in the fact that you're a child of God, and that God is a good parent who wants what is best for you.