Quite Some Time
(From September 2005)

Pappaw? Pappaw? The words of nearly two year old Logan, when
they pulled into our driveway last Sunday afternoon. He is the only
one of five grandchildren who has been hesitant to allow me to pick
him up or hold him. I've been patiently waiting for him to decide he
was comfortable enough with me to allow it. This Sunday was the
day.

They'd been here to pick up our son's errant mail. Neither Carol nor
I were here. She was with a friend and I was playing music for those
in a local Nursing home. Shawn had to keep explaining that Logan's
pappaw wasn't home. They were still at the end of the driveway as
I rounded the corner. After they unbuckled him, he crawled across
his daddy and let me pick him up and carry him for a bit. I'd been
waiting...quite some time...for him to decide to come to me.

Logan will be two years old next month. After the first few months
of his life, he became shy with me and simply wouldn't permit me
to hold him or pick him up. He was content to play with me, let me
feed him, talk with him, tickle him or read to him...but he wasn't
going to come to me. I've been thinking about the similarities of his
behavior and ours...toward God. Many of remember our early days
in Sunday School. I can remember being certain of His love for me
and mine for Him...till about the mid teen years. At that time, I was
my own man...I would make him wait till I was in my mid twenties
before I decided I wanted Him to pick me up and hold me again. All
those years, I would only turn to Him when I wanted something, or
I was suffering or fearful. He'd been waiting...quite some time....
-----------------------------------------

Father, I've been guilty of making You wait for my return. I still make
You wait, as I pursue my own desires and agenda. Please forgive me
for my habit of turning to You when I need you, then neglecting You
when I think ' I ' have everything under control. I thank You for all You
do, in spite of my neglect. Empty me of my own plans and agenda,
so I can be filled with Your will. Show me what I can do for You. Let
me be Your hands and feet as I wander along. I desire to be Your
good and faithful servant. I can only become one...when I am empty
and listening to Your still small voice. Forgive my sins, as I forgive
other sinners. I pray with confidence in the power of
the name of Jesus....
Amen.

"...And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the
share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property
between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he
had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered
his property in reckless living. -- -- "But when he came to himself, he
said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough
bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father,
and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and
before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as
one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt
compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the
son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before
you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father
said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him,
and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the
fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my
son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And
they began to celebrate."
Luke 15:12,13 -- 17-24 ESV






Steve    _____________




© Steven Green 2005

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