Coming Home

Our two sons will be home for Christmas. One is in the air right now on his way home from college. Our older son is taking a few days off from work to come home with his girlfriend. My wife and I are anxious to have all 3 of our children home at Christmas. It's been a couple of years since that's happened.

As you can imagine, the Christmas tree is up, the lights have been hung outside, the house is decorated, cleaned, and smelling like a pinewoods forest! But best of all (have I said this already?), our children will all be home for Christmas.

As thrilled as I am, I can only begin to imagine how another father felt when his son came home. The story in Luke 15 tells of a son who became discontented with life at home and left his family behind. We don't know exactly how much time elapsed, but eventually this son came to his senses and decided to return home, admit he was wrong, and face the consequences.

But a funny thing happened when he arrived at home; instead of the expected reprimand, his father greeted him with a hug and a kiss (remember, he had just left a pig pen), put a wonderful robe on him, sandals on his feet, and gave him access to the family wealth (the significance of the ring). What was expected was supplanted by the unexpected.

That's what grace is all about. What we deserve is not what we receive. But what we do receive is, in fact, a reflection of a Father who, more than anything else loves it when His children come home.

I don't know where you've been or what you've done--the fact is, that makes no difference. What matters is that we each have a Father who wants us at home during this Christmas season. Won't you plan to spend the holidays with Him? There's nothing better than coming home!