"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 15:20b NIV)
I walked down the road to visit a neighbour,
but she was not home. As I turned to leave, the young woman next door
hurried towards me, visibly upset. She was carrying her two-week-old
premature baby. She had left her four-year-old son to go in for the
baby, and the boy had disappeared.
My heart sank as I surveyed the acres of dense
bush behind the yards. Across the road, new houses were under
construction, and behind them, a creek. At one end of the short road is
a busy highway; at the other a river, with a dam and a waterfall -- so
many dangers for a little boy!
He was not hiding; their dog was gone as well.
After a few minutes' search, shouting the boy's name, I asked the
construction workers to call the police.
They quickly arrived. I held the tiny baby as
the mom spoke to them. A sniffer dog and its handler plunged into the
bush while patrol cars and officers searched the roads. Soon, a
helicopter buzzed overhead. Our local radio station made an
announcement. The police report stated that the area was “saturated”.
An hour and a half passed. A small crowd
gathered. The sky darkened and a strong wind whipped up dust from the
driveway -- a summer storm was coming. The baby seemed content as I
sheltered his head with my arm. The young mother sobbed. I hugged her
with my free arm and prayed softly, Father in heaven, You know where he
is. Lead them to him. Keep him safe.
Radios crackled. An officer informed us that a
boy had been spotted on River Road. Patrol cars headed in that
direction. Long minutes passed. The mother's eyes were glued to the end
of her driveway. Then, the bystanders parted to allow two police cars
in. A cheer erupted. A dog jumped out of one car and turned circles with
excitement. From the other, a little boy emerged, with bare feet and no
shirt, just a pair of shorts, his hair sticking up, and a bemused smile
on his dirty face.
He had wanted to go to the park. Just home
from hospital, his mom had said “No.” He grinned shyly as he looked
around at everyone smiling at him. Confused, he did not fully understand
whether he had done something wrong. An officer attempted to give him a
kindly lecture, but his mom kissed him and wrapped her arms tightly
around him.
The police left; the crowd dispersed. I handed
back the baby. When I arrived home, I began to shake. I had been so
scared. Thank God that little boy was safe!
Then, I realized that this is how much God
loves us. No matter what we've done or how far we've wandered, He waits
and watches and wraps His arms around us when we return. If you've lost
your way, don't be afraid to come back. He loves you!
Prayer: Father, thank You for loving us. Thank
You for forgiving our sins. Thank You for welcoming us home and
rejoicing in our return. Amen.
JJ
Ollerenshaw
Belleville, Ontario, Canada
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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