The two best friends were playing in the back yard sliding
down a hill into a pile of mud. The boys were laughing and having a wonderful
time until they slid down the hill at the same time and smashed their noses
together, both noses erupting in blood.
The parents of the two boys were sitting
on the patio sharing drinks and conversation. They had just commented on how
filthy the boys were getting and wondering how they were going to get the boys
to the bath without getting filthy themselves. The parents were going out later
that evening and were already dressed for the occasion.
When the boys smashed their noses together
and both noses erupted in blood, all four parents leapt from their chairs and
rushed to the boys. By the time the boys were calmed down, all four parents
were covered in mud and blood, but the boys were reassured of their parents
love and compassion.
Later that evening one of the parents
compared that event with his understanding of God’s love. “All my life, I
believed I had to get cleaned up before God would love me,” he said. “I was
afraid to go to God because I knew my sins made me as filthy and messy as the
boys were today. But I wonder if God is more concerned about his love for us
than about our sins and filth.”
His wife said, “I wondered the same thing.
When I saw the boys hurt, the last thing on my mind was how filthy or bloody
they were. I just wanted to love them and tell them we were there for them. I
think God is like that.”
The other mother agreed. “When the boys
needed us we dropped everything and ran to them. I think that’s what Jesus was
telling us with the story of the prodigal son. God runs to us in spite of our
filth, in spite of our mess and he just loves us.”
The last parent, who was listening to the
other three talk about God and this event, suddenly felt his eyes well up in
tears.
“I never understood the idea about God
being my Papa until I listened to you three talk. I wanted to believe he loved
me, but always felt he was keeping an arms distance because of my sins. You’ve
helped me understand that God loves me just as I am. Amazing how God uses our
children and you guys to help me understand that he is a Father who unconditionally
loves us in the midst of our filthy and messy lives.”
God doesn't mind at all being covered in our filth and mess. He's more concerned with reassuring us of his love and compassion.
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