Oct
15
2013
Refresh and Rejuvenate
Posted in Forgiveness 2 Comments
I walked out of the store behind the mother and son.
He was just a toddler, sucking his thumb as he unenthusiastically followed his mom.
He was tired; they had been shopping for a while it seemed.
It takes a lot of energy to be good in a store.
It was my favorite store; the one with the bulls-eye logo.
The store that always has the big red balls in front by the curb.
This little boy was enjoying his thumb; he was not in any hurry.
Suddenly the automatic doors opened and he saw the big red ball.
Forgetting his thumb, with a burst of energy, he ran towards it.
He was also running towards the parking lot to the dismay of his mother.
Careful, wait for Mommy. Good boy. Yes, you can climb up there.
She caught my eye and I smiled a knowing smile.
Been there…done that!
Except for me, it was the small carousel horses that were sometimes outside the store.
I get the blue horse…Mom, he had that one last time!
Isn’t it amazing the things that will perk us up?
You have a bad day; one of those days where starting over would be nice.
The mail comes and a note from a friend is waiting for you.
The day seems brighter, and is now a bit more do-able.
You go to the store because something you need is on sale.
When you get there, they are all out of the item.
As you turn to go, you see it on another shelf, and you are able to get the last one.
You are in a crowd with no familiar faces.
All of a sudden, you see that one face you recognize.
All is well.
The littlest thing can rejuvenate us.
The smallest thing can refresh us; turning the ho-hum into the extraordinary.
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.” (Luke 15:11-20)
The son made poor choices; choices made out of greed.
As so often is the case, you don’t realize what you have until it is gone.
The way back is never easy, but it is possible!
The person taking you back can turn away, thereby severing any chance of restoration.
Or the person can do what the father, in Jesus’ story, did for his son.
But while he was still a long way off his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. (Luke 15:20)
Isn’t it amazing the things that will perk us up?
The littlest thing can rejuvenate us.
The son was rehearsing his feeble excuse.
The father had been looking over the hill in anticipation.
No excuse was necessary.
The father knew that the way back was not easy, but his compassion made it possible.
The father made a way.
The relationship was restored.
The son who had probably been dragging his feet, now had a spring in his step.
He was forgiven.
The day was brighter; his life was now a bit more do-able.
The father was watching; he was ready with open arms to embrace his son and forgive.
It is no different for us.
We have our feeble excuses.
We rehearse our stories trying to explain away our behavior.
The Father is watching.
The Father made a Way.
The Way is a Person: Jesus, the Son of God.
Through Jesus, there is a way back; we can be restored to the Father.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
We are that prodigal who needs to come home.
We are in a crowd with no familiar faces.
All of a sudden, we see that One Face we recognize.
All is well.
We are forgiven.
We can go HOME.
I had no tolerance for this story when I was younger. The injustice to the ‘good and faithful son’ was something so clear to me. And then I became a mother. . . . As always, THANK YOU for the rejuvenating Words!
Cathy,
So much of God’s Word hits us just like you said…something we heard our whole life suddenly makes sense to us. You are so right! I understood the love of the Father better when I became a mother. I am so glad you were blessed by these words.
Gina