Running Toward Us
“Can you really not throw this away?” I say to my husband with irritation, holding up a crumpled piece of paper that I know, before I pick it up, is a list of groceries that he bought at the store.
He sighs and says he’ll try. Later I apologize for my grumpiness when it comes to those many shopping lists strewn around our home. I have tried to train myself to stop, apologize, and ask for forgiveness when I get annoyed or lose my temper with family members, often over the little things of life. Sometimes it’s easier to adhere to the “stopping” part of that cycle than at other times, even though after the fact I wish I could reel in my tongue sooner.
Can you recall a time you didn’t honor Christ in the day-to-day of life? Unfortunately, I could share several other stories! But a wonderful and freeing part of serving our forgiving God is how He runs toward us with grace and love. Though we fail, in the little moments of the day or the big ones, He offers us a fresh start, a clean slate. We’re His beloved—He doesn’t label us by our wrongdoings.
The Beloved Daughter
God running toward us, arms outstretched with love, is pictured in the well-known parable Jesus tells of the Prodigal Son (see Luke 15:11–31). Imagine a slice of this familiar story—with a twist—and see how your heart reacts:
“Hey Dad! I want my money now.”
In demanding her full inheritance, the daughter in effect wishes her father dead. The loving father, even knowing that this money will bring destruction to his precious one, fulfills the request. She takes the money and runs—going to places where it’s easy to blow cash in parties and lavish living. New friends flock to her, loving the handouts. After some months, when her funds run out, she realizes that they are just using her. They loved her money, not her.
She’s broke, and when a famine hits, she’s hungry too. The only work she can find is feeding the pigs—even their disgusting slop looks appetizing to her.
In this pigsty moment, she comes to her senses, remembering her father’s house. She knows that he cares for even his most part-time workers much better than how her employer treats her. “I’ll go home!” she thinks. “I’ll tell Dad that I’ve done wrong—I’ve sinned against him and God. I’ll tell him to consider me as a hired hand and not as his daughter; after all, that’s what I deserve.”
She heads back home, and when she’s still a long way off, she catches sight of a figure running toward her. “Can it be?” she wonders, breath catching, heart pounding. Part of her can’t believe her dad is bounding toward her, arms outstretched. But it’s true! It’s really him!
As she falls to the ground in front of him, he scoops her up, throws his arms around her, and kisses her. His strong arms safe and secure, she exhales for the first time in months. Through sobs, she says, “Dad, I’m so sorry. I’ve done you wrong —I’m no longer worthy to be called your daughter.”
Looking at her with love, and still holding her tightly, he turns to his employees and says, “Quick! Prepare a feast with our best food! We need to celebrate. I’m so happy—this daughter of mine was dead and is alive again! She was lost and now is found!”
A True Foundation
What a story! How did that feel as you experienced the story from this point of view? What thoughts popped into your mind? I hope that reading it in this fashion helped you understand even more deeply the true and wonderful knowledge of how much God loves you.
From this foundation of being loved, adored, and affirmed, we can ask for and extend forgiveness to our loved ones. Knowing that our Father runs toward us—lifting his robes, which in Jesus’ culture was not okay—we can move from fear and recrimination into spaciousness, freedom, and joy.
As we begin this new year, why not spend a few moments pondering how being rooted and established in love helps you begin again, to make a fresh start as you turn from any wrongdoing and return home to God. Sink into the strong and safe embrace of the Father. Notice what you’re feeling, thinking, and experiencing. What old hurts or grudges might He invite you to lay at His feet? What adventures might God call you to embrace?
May we be those who accept the loving embrace of our Father, and from that safe place, reach out to others in love, grace, and peace.
—Written by Amy Boucher Pye. Used by permission from the author. Click here to connect with Amy.
