Don’t forget to hug!
Moms and Dads, don’t forget to express your belief, your blessing, and your love to your children. You have the greatest influence in your child’s life. The Father in the prodigal story is the good one. The Father “filled with compassion” is ready to cover their selfish mistakes if they will only receive Him. When he sees his younger son in the horizon making his way home, he bolts in a blaze of compassion. There is no room in his heart to replay the hurt his son created when he initially left home. When the Father notices the older son is not celebrating, he steps outside to plead him back home. Even in the ugliness of his anger, the Father proves that love wins, but it is not pain free.
Our families have the ability to create the deepest hurt or leave the greatest pain. And yet, they have the potential to bring the greatest blessing when we are willing to love and forgive. Don’t hold onto something so long that it causes you to break or worse yet, to die inside. No matter what has been said or done. It is time! It is time to let go so you can embrace.
Run to your kids today, and hug them (Regardless of their age) because it will make their day (maybe even their life)!
Posted in Lent 2008
March 13th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Todd,
I have gotten a lot out of each Sunday’s messages. And this past Sunday talking about the father. As a parent so many times I can understand somewhat maybe how our Heavenly Father must feel. When you want the best for your children but they reject what you are trying to tell them or they want to do it thier own way. And all along you know there will be pain in thier choices.
But Sunday it was just a great reminder and it came so loud and clear to me that my Heavenly Father wants the best for me. He is running out to me when I go off and want to do things my way and turn my focus off of him or even when I am feeling sad or down and feel like maybe God is not listening and wondering why things happen in life as they do. It was such a great picture to know that God is there for me and everyone. He has not gone anywhere we have to just be willing to reach out to him.
Thanks for your dedication to bringing God’s word to us all.
Tamara