Everyone, at times, experiences the pain of love given but not returned. But, are we too quick in giving up; in turning away those who have disappointed us? Maybe we do, but God does not.
God is self-giving love.
Of himself he says, “Love suffers long and is kind.”
We see the love of Father God in the parable of the prodigal son: the son seemed to do everything wrong. Already the father has given him his inheritance.
Do we not see that even the opportunity of life is a gift from another; and inheritance not deserved, not asked for.
And the “bad” son spoils his life. Using the gift of life-his potentials-
so selfishly.
Let’s not be too quick to judge him. Are we not are looking at our selves?
Perhaps we have not gotten so caught up as did this “Prodigal,” but we are near of kin to him in many ways.
Given his set of circumstances are we so confident that we would not have fallen so deeply as did he?
Perhaps we had someone in our corner. Someone that helped us more than we realize – and this boy did not.
Yet the Father was watching. He was not judging. He was just there – watching, waiting, knowing that life must come crashing down – – – and He would be there; not to scold but rather to reassure. And the time came.
“Kill the fatted calf,” shout the Father, “my son has come to me hoping that I can help him. My son has come home!”
No confession comes from the son’s lips: nor any correction from the Father’s.
Can we do better? Surely not! Is this a picture of happiness? There is none better.
The Father had been long in suffering his son’s plight. Certainly he did not stoop to blaming. The stakes were too high for that.
Oh, dear friends do we not see that happiness can be contaminated before it is allowed to happen – if we do as we are told not to do?
“Judge not that ye be not judged.”
The difference between Father God and us is that He alone has the right to judge but chooses not to. And we, who are hypocrites to judge, do so quite easily; and destroy rather than heal those in our paths.
Buddy