Daddy Don't Go!

This is simple but very profound, if you don't just skip over it.

A few weeks ago my parents came to Houston to visit us, having driven from Northern Indiana. I get to see my parents about once a year so it is a gift anytime we can be together, and they are in their 70’s so the time we have with them is even more precious. The last evening that they were in town with us my dad and I went for a short walk to check the mail and visit the neighborhood. I remember thinking that this could very well be one of the last walks that I have with my earthly Father for a long time. I valued that moment. Then it hit me. What if I viewed the relationship with my Heavenly Father, God in heaven, with the same regard? I had to take an honest evaluation. I don't think I made the grade.

I wonder at those who have parents that live so close yet have no valued relationship with them. Oh, yes, I know that there are those who have been abused by their parents and other extenuating circumstances that create a relationship barrier, but I want to challenge some thinking. First, why not visit your family (if you can) out of the ordinary. If you say that your parents hate you or abused you, why not show them the love of God regardless of the circumstance. Reach out! God will hold each PERSON accountable for their actions. Whether or not the other individual(s) show you love back is on them.

Secondly, why not view the relationship with your Heavenly Father (or start one if you haven't one) with a greater adoration, commitment and energy than ever before? What if today was the last day that you could speak or walk with God? You know, Adam probably never thought that his relationship with God and the walks in the cool of the summer days would ever end. But, sadly, it did. He took his relationship with his Creator for granted. We take so many relationships for granted, especially with our family and with God the Father. Reach out to your family. Restore those lost relationships. Do your part. Reach up to God. He's done His part by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross just to restore that broken fellowship, and He didn’t have to do it. He loved us that much. How much can we love Him...? Not enough. How much can we love others, especially those we call family? Do we have any right to hold a grudge? We put God through so much; we literally put Him through hell when we took the life of His Son…How dare we say we have any right to not try and do ALL WE CAN TO RESTORE THE RELATIONSHIPS IN OUR LIVES. If you have an excuse for me as to why you cannot do that, you need to read the previous sentence a few times until that sinks in real good.