Sleepless Nights

Dear Friend:

A man has two sons and the younger son wants his share of the estate and the Dad gives it to him. The son goes off and wastes all the money. He was eating, drinking and being merry. Out of desperation he takes a hard labor job. As he works hard labor and is treated like a slave with not much generous compensation he begins to remember that his Dad, a businessman, treated all his employees with much more care. He treated every worker no matter where they were in the company with dignity and respect. His frustration gets him to think I can suck it up and go back to Dad and say “I am not worthy to be your son, but I am willing to work for you.”
The Dad all this time has been having sleepless nights filled with terror over his son’s absence. What is he up to, is he even alive? He waited and waited for what seemed like eternity to hear from his son. He did decide that he would not run after his son and force him home. He wanted him to come of his own free will.
The day comes when the son is walking up to the company and the Dad looks out the window and sees him coming. The Dad runs to the elevator and goes down and runs to the son and embraces and kisses him. The son can’t believe it! He still chooses to say “Dad I am not worthy to be your son, but will come and work for you.” The Dad realizes he really has had a heart change gets on his cell phone and calls someone to come bring him new clothes, orders some food and proceeds to throw a party that day. The Dad announces to all the employees “my son was lost but now is found; I thought he was dead but he is alive.”

The joy of a Dad seeing his son alive is so great and he chooses to give him GRACE. That means the son did not deserve anything but he chooses to give him everything and no strings attached.

Here are some questions to ask yourself from this story.
Where were all the sons’ friends he met along the way? Did they take advantage of him and then they saw the money ran out and abandoned him? Why did the Dad give him the money in the first place? Should the Dad have taken him back so easily and with a great homecoming?

This is a modern rewrite of the story “The Prodigal Son.” Did you know prodigal means wasteful? The wasteful son received grace from his Dad. At what moment in our lives did we finally stop running away from God and turn and run into his arms. I’m sure the son had “SLEEPLESS NIGHTS.” We ask God to forgive us and then have a heart ready to serve him.

Are you running into the arms of God today or running away? What is the Father’s response? IT IS ALWAYS FULL OF LOVE, COMPASSION, FORGIVENESS, MERCY AND GIVING.

LET’S PRAY: Father in heaven I want to walk with you and not run from you. Thank you for always being there for me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Refreshed from a good night of sleep,
Elaine