by leaps and bounds

But when he came to himself, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” And they began to be merry.” (Luke 15:17-24)

We can all cherish some of our earliest memories of our children. These memories keep their childhood alive in our hearts and in our minds- our “children forever.”

I can remember my son following me around the house as fast as his short legs would take him. He is now six feet tall and weighs over two hundred pounds- a strong and intelligent man. I can remember my daughter coming to the kitchen door with dirt on her face and in her blonde hair- after only a couple of minutes spent outside. Now she is a very busy young woman with very little time to spend on recreation.

Remember the skinned knees and the bruises from childhood play? As years go by, the hurts are much deeper. Relationship issues result in broken hearts. Financial issues create uncertainty. Health issues can spawn fear. In other words, childhood “boo-boos” turn into serious adult problems.

Then there is the possibility of our children straying down the wrong path. No matter how tough or how together a father is- this is the greatest wound of all. When we see them fall short of the expectations we had for them we must recall the words of Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Luke 15 gives an account of a son who took his inheritance early and left his father’s house. He then squandered everything he had in a binge of partying and immoral living. However, he finally came to himself and realized how far he had fallen.

Broke, disheartened and starving, he faced reality. He said, “My father’s servants have more than enough. I have sinned against heaven right in front of my father. I am not worthy to be called his son, but I am willing to simply be his servant.”

The young man approached his home. No doubt he was dirty, disheveled, underweight and probably rather smelly. His father saw him afar off. He had no doubt watched for him every day. Before the son could start his rehearsed speech, the father ran, met him and hugged and kissed him. The father had not forgotten him. The father had not given up on him. He just wanted him to come home! Why? The answer is “a father’s love.”

Now and then our children call, text or somehow communicate that all is not well. As fathers, we let them know the door is open and the light is on. They will always have a home to run to.

You see, the father in Luke 15 is a beautiful picture of our Heavenly Father. As his children, we sometimes run off to do our own thing. He doesn’t forget us. He doesn’t give up on us. He just wants us to come home! He will keep the door open and the light on. In the meantime, he will be watching for us to come walking up that dusty road. Why? The answer is “the Father’s love.”

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Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.

Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children  — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter  — Breanna. 

Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 

Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.