‘To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.’ Luke 15:11-24(NLT)
Imagine your phone ringing in the middle of the night waking you out of a deep sleep. Your heart races as you answer. A police officer says your teenage son has been involved in a serious automobile accident, and he would like you at the scene immediately.
You’re sure they have the wrong boy. Your son went to his room hours ago. He’s fast asleep.
You quickly check his bed. He’s not there. With your heart in your throat, you race to the garage. One of your cars is missing.
Putting the pieces together, you assume he snuck out of the house and “borrowed” your car without permission.
As you arrive at the scene, the lights, sounds, and personnel rushing around overwhelm you. You catch a glimpse of your son just as they are extracting him from the demolished remains of your car. You rush over to him, relieved to find him alive.
What are your very next thoughts?
- Are you angry because your son took the car without asking and then totaled it?
- Are you upset with him for deceptively sneaking out of the house?
- Do you want to embrace him and reassure him that it’ll be OK?
When faced with a dire situation like this, most dads would instantly forget about the car and focus on their son’s well-being. They’d quickly forgive and be more concerned about his injuries than the discipline they will administer later.
Being a dad ensures we’ll have many opportunities to forgive our children. At times it can be hard to do. But we have to remember that our Heavenly Father forgives us all the time. And if we want to be more like Him, we need to do the same – in big and small situations.
PRAY you can forgive your son as God has already forgiven you.
PRAY for proper perspective when you need to forgive.
from Becoming A Praying Father