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I am the oldest of four children. My mother worked long hours since I didn’t have a father in my home. As the oldest it often fell on me to provide babysitting services to my siblings. Two of them are quite a bit younger than I so they were a challenge.
One day I decided my mother didn’t appreciate me. She made life too hard and simply didn’t understand I was practically grown up. I had demonstrated that I could maintain the house, cook a meal and watch children therefore I didn’t need her telling me what to do. It was clear to me that I could do much better on my own. So at the very mature age of 12 years old I left home. Since I loved my mother I thought it would be best to give her a chance to realize what was about to happen. So one afternoon I announced my intentions of leaving home. She wouldn’t have me to do all of things that I did and without question the entire family would fall apart. I began to feel badly for them because I KNEW how difficult it would be for them after I was gone. However, mom could avoid all of the heartache by simply apologizing for her errors and begging me to stay.
The more I thought about it the more I realized that’s probably what would happen. She would break down in tears and realize what a terrible mistake she made. I walked up to her with suitcase in hand (it was really a sack) told her I was leaving and if she had anything to say “NOW IS THE TIME”.
What happened next set motherhood back at least 5,000 years. She told me that the food I had put in my sack was hers and if I was going to leave it would be without HER food. Since I was now on my own I had to get my own food. If I found a job please write and let her know. She never once asked me to stay.
I was so shocked I gave her the food and marched out the door wondering what was ahead. I think I was gone for about 3 hours. I had to go back home admitting my error. I expected to be severely punished. Everyone would laugh at me. I could just hear all of the sarcastic remarks mom would make. As I walked up the steps to my house I took a deep breath preparing myself for what was about to happen. I walked in the house and never heard a word of criticism or sarcasm. She hugged me and reminded me how much she loved me. She told me that if I wanted to live with her I was always welcome.
Matt 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! As great as was my mother’s love God’s is infinitely greater. One of the aspects of God about which we can always rejoice His never ending love.
Why is it that when we sin, fall spiritually or run away from home we expect God to exact some sort of revenge against us? God is not an ogre. He is not some celestial or heavenly tyrant just looking for an opportunity to beat us for some perceived wrong. He welcomes us with outstretched arms saying “Please come home. I love you”. Not only is God’s love and mercy never ending He is looking for ways to show you His love. He wants you to know His love. He wants you to know His mercy.
If you’ve been running for a while it’s time to come home. There will be no sarcasm or ridicule. There will only be amazing love.
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