“And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry” (Luke 15:21-24).
Lois stood trembling as she reached for the doorbell at her parents’ home. Her rebellion was so deep and her wicked lifestyle so tragic that she had not spoken with her parents for a long time. Now she stood at their door feeling unworthy to walk into her own childhood home. She rang the doorbell as an uninvited guest. She wanted to come home. She wanted her parents’ forgiveness. She wanted to change. She rang the doorbell again. There was no answer. Both cars were there. Her parents had to be home. But they were rejecting her, and she knew that she deserved it. Her heart sank, and she was doubly crushed. Tears flowed, and the magnitude of her sin and failure nearly swallowed her. Turning from her parents’ front door, she walked slowly to her car. “What do I do now?” she sobbed to herself. Suddenly she heard her name being called over and over again. “Lois! Lois!” her dad called. “Honey, we’re coming!” her mom screamed. They had been in their neighbor’s house when Dad had looked out the window, and there was their girl. Lois turned, and there were her parents running with open arms. Neither waited to put their winter coats on! They ran to her, and right in the middle of the street, a huge reunion of screaming, crying, hugging, and kissing took place. Lois was home.
For today: Are you estranged from someone? Is it time for you to come home?