Could you be this strong?

The Father's Decision (A True Story) One church service a man was asked to share his story of how he became to know the Lord. The Pastor gave an introduction about the man who was going to share his story. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit to speak, "A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific Coast," he began, "when a fast-approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept into the ocean." The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. He continued, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life.... to which boy he would throw the other end of the line? He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his own son was a Christian, but he also knew that his son's friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. He had only seconds to make his decision as each boy called out to him for help. As the father yelled out in tears, 'I love you, son!' he threw the line to his son's friend. By the time he pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his own son had disappeared beyond the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered." By this time, the two teenagers were sitting straighter in the pew, waiting for the next words to come out of the old man's mouth. "The father," he continued, "grieved deeply for his boy who lost at sea that day. He recalled hearing his own son and his son’s friend both begging in screams for his help. However he could not saved both of them and he knew this. He knew his own son was saved; that he would step into eternity with Jesus, but that his son’s friend was not. He could not bear the thought of his unsaved son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son. How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us." With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely started one of the boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian." "Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, and he once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that THAT story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me. You see ... I was the son's friend." (Do you think if you were in this mans same shoes that you could do the same? Or would it be to difficult, too heart breaking for you to hear you own child call out to you and not chose to save him/her?)