Many years ago when we had three young children, our family went to
Storybook Gardens in London, Ontario, Canada. It was a lot of fun --
until my five-year-old son, Jonathan, disappeared. He had been firmly
told to stay close by us, but he forgot and wandered away, lured by the
exciting attractions. As he meandered through Storybook Gardens, he came
to the old woman who lived in a shoe who had so many children she didn't
know what to do. He knew that he wasn't one of her children and didn't
belong in that story! So he walked on. He saw old MacDonald's farm with
the sheep, cows, and chickens. He knew that he wasn't an animal and
didn't belong there! So he walked further. He passed the homes of the
Three Little Pigs. He knew he didn't belong in that story either!
Meanwhile, I was getting worried. Then, I heard an announcement over
the loud speaker: "Would the mother of Jonathan Eaton please come to the
front office." What a relief! I was glad that he remembered who he was
-- and also who he was not. Thankfully, he got to the place where
someone could help him find us. He knew that he would be welcomed back
into his family even though he had strayed. We happily received him
back, forgiven and loved as ever.
In a sense, we are all
meandering through a giant Storybook Garden. Stories are being enacted
around us all the time. Many stories arise from fear, anger, guilt,
retaliation, and emptiness. They are stories of material accumulation
and self-seeking ambition. Those kinds of stories are not meant to be
ours. They are not the ones God calls people to live. Yet, they can
easily lure us. God wants us to belong in His family, and take His story
as our story -- the kingdom of God. We must fervently seek to know this
story. Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33a NKJV).
If we know who we are and where we belong, we will also know where we do
not belong.
When we lose sight of who we are in God's kingdom, we
are prone to settle ourselves in the wrong stories. The good news is
that there is always a way back. When we realize that we have become
caught up in stories which are not meant to be ours, we can always turn
our hearts toward home and once again seek our heavenly Father. He has
promised to "hear from heaven" and receive us back forgiven and loved as
ever. That's God's story!
Prayer: Lord, open our eyes to see
where we may have become caught up in the wrong stories. We trust You to
receive us back to Yourself -- where we belong, in Your grand story of
redemption and hope. Amen.
Diane Eaton
Kincardine,
Ontario, Canada
Thanks to
PresbyCan Daily Devotional
