I have to be honest this morning: I wasn’t going to post anything. After the heartbreaking decision on the child I wrote about yesterday, and after another visit to the mother and grandparents at the end of my “work day” yesterday, I was numb. No…I am numb. Still. I just have to keep in mind that God knows the truth and that ultimately the truth will prevail, pray the judge will make the right decision for the child, and I/we will be able to look back and see His purpose and plan. 

I’ve been reading This Was Never the Plan (subtitled “Walking with God through the heartache of divorce”) by Vaneeetha Rendall Risner. Since I have never been divorced, but know of many who have been and are, and who often come to my office seeking guidance (not judgment), I decided to read this book, especially after reading some of the recommendations. It has been very helpful and much of what she says also applies to life, divorced or not. In one chapter, Mrs. Risner writes about THE FATHER’S EXTRAVAGANT LOVE. She uses the story of the prodigal son (I call it The Parable of the Loving Father) to drive home her point about needing and giving grace. In Luke 15 Jesus tells the story of the son who took the money and ran. Meanwhile, the older son stayed at home. Eventually the son came to his senses and said, “I need to go home and ask my father’s forgiveness.” He did just that. The father saw him coming and against all Jewish male protocol, hiked up his robe and ran to meet his son, showering him with love and kisses and acceptance and a feast. Meanwhile, back on the ranch the older son gets livid about his father’s show of affection and feast for his brother. He whined about his “faithfulness” to his father and the father’s response was simply, “This son who was lost is now found.” {Story told in my words}

Here is where Mrs. Risner’s words rang the bell:

How easily we fall into the same trap (as the older brother)-believing we deserve God’s favor because of our goodness and resenting his grace when it’s given freely to others. Perhaps the greatest danger for the older brother-and for us-is focusing on the younger brother’s behavior and how undeserving he is, rather than our own need for grace. The older brother needed to repent-not of obvious rebellion, but his self-righteousness and resentment. (emphasis mine)

Both sons needed to repent. One for his blatant sin; the other for his self-righteousness and resentment. We can either turn to the Father in surrender or we can turn away from the Father in shame. Which will it be for you?