“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
This is my favorite part of the prodigal son story. I love it SO much. It’s not just that he has compassion for his son. My favorite part is that the father must have been looking every day at the horizon, waiting and hoping for the day his son might come home, and the MOMENT the father catches a glimpse of his son, he RUNS to embrace him.
When I make a mess of things, my tendency is to hide. I think that comes from a misunderstanding of God’s love for me. His love isn’t based on how well we’re doing OR on how much we have screwed up. God’s not out to get us. He’s out to draw us near. Lord, help me remember, especially when I fall on my face and make mistakes, that you are full of compassion for us, that you’ve got your eyes on the horizon, ready to run to us and wrap us in your arms. Grateful for mercy today and for the embrace of a Father who knows us fully and loves us anyway.
