We had a beautiful day, and now that the sun has set, it’s time to focus on our time together, Father. Speak through me the words You deem best. Amen.

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Today, on one of my first elementary drop-offs, I witnessed a heartwarming sight. Two brothers get off, and their father is walking the family dog down their long drive to meet them. The younger brother, a first grader, hits the ground running and, with total abandonment, embraces his father’s waist in the biggest hug you can imagine! The father eagerly and with equal enthusiasm lifts his son off the ground!

This week, I am working on a sermon for the fourth Sunday of Lent. My text is Luke 15:1-3; 11b-32 – the story of the prodigal son. As you might remember, the youngest of two sons had taken his share of his inheritance – an audaciously arrogant act – and had blown the entirety of it. When he hit rock bottom, he realized the error of his ways and, with great humility on his part, headed back home to confess his wrongdoings and beg for a place amongst his father’s servants.

His father, while he was still a long way off and filled with love and compassion…ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. v20 The son had to wait to vocalize his confession, but his father would hear nothing of it. Instead of rejection or lectures, he welcomed him home as his son!

In my mind’s eye, the father hit the ground running and, with total abandonment, embraced his son in the biggest hug you could imagine!

As I pondered these thoughts along the rest of my route, I got to thinking about the youngest son – the prodigal, the oldest son (who did everything he was “supposed” to do, minus the love for his father), and then I had the desire to be a third – middle – son. This isn’t a part of Jesus’ parable, but as one reborn into the family of God, my heart’s desire upon stepping into heaven would be for my Heavenly Father and I to run to each other with even greater eager enthusiasm than my young student. Could anything be greater? Oh, that my joy would increase exponentially as my anticipation rises all the more every day!

Mar 4th, 2024, Mon, 7:12 pm