A long time ago there was a Middle Eastern farmer who had two sons. It was a large farm with hired help. The farmer lived comfortably and had plenty to eat, but he and his sons worked hard. I’m not sure exactly why, but the younger son grew tired of it all. Maybe it was the long days and getting up before dawn. Maybe it was sweating under the hot Mediterranean sun that burned him. Maybe it was taking orders from his older brother. (If you have an older brother you know how bothersome that can be.)
Maybe it was all of the above that led this younger son to go to his father and say, “Give me my share of your property. I’m leaving.”
This broke his father’s heart, but he did it. He shouldn’t have done it, tho. His son was being mean and arrogant. The father should have become angry and kicked the son out for good. Asking for his inheritance was saying to his father, “I wish you were dead!”
However, even though his heart was broken, the father divided up all he had and gave this ungrateful son his share. In a disgraceful move the son sold off part of the family farm, packed his bags and left.
You would think his father would slam the door behind him and say, “Good riddance! Never come back.”
But he didn’t. He watched his beloved son walk away- walk down the path – walk to the main road -turn left and walk away. The father watched until his son was just a speck on the horizon. Then he was gone. And the father kept watching, hoping his son would change his mind and come back.
And every day after that the father kept watching.
(To be continued)
Would you like to have a Father like that? Well, we do! God our Father loves us no matter what and watches for us to come home, no matter what.
John the disciple writes this: See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children — and we are!
Where are you today? Home with your Father or out on the road? Wherever you are your Father loves you.
See you next week for the rest of the story.
Scripture quoted: 1 John 3:1
Hope Walking 