Coming Home

So he got up and went to his father. 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 NIV

Our kids came home yesterday after a week at church camp. Zach was responsible for running the technology for most of the week and is fast becoming a leader among the youth. Rachel has discovered how intoxicating it can be when you really draw close to God and is turning into quite the young lady. I'm so proud of them both and very thankful to our friends at church who took the week and went down there to lead not only my kids but all of the others who went as well!

Suzanne and I woke up yesterday and decided we wanted to celebrate their return. We went and got some sirloins and some potatoes that might require a ticket if you were going to fly with them and planned a nice family evening. It was a good week for Suzanne and I (except for her getting sick) but it was really nice to have them home as well. We wanted to show them that they the father showed his son how much he missed him in that story from Luke.

That story from Luke demonstrates two other things for me as well. First, it shows us how much God loves us and misses us when we've been away from Him and trying to make things work on our own. No matter how long it's been or what we said when we left, our coming back home is cause for a celebration...a bring out of His very best just for us!

Second, it demonstrates the level of love and forgiveness we should have for one another. It can be really hard to forgive and move on and yet, if God can do it for us time and again and "run out to us", shouldn't we do exactly the same?