I think we all are prodigal sons and daughters at different points in our lives.

In the Bible there is a story of the prodidal son who leaves his father, comes home and his father brings out the fatted calf to celebrate his son's return.

And so likewise our Father in heaven rejoices when his children, his sheep, that have gone astray- when we come to that place where we realize we have wandered far from his voice and return.  Some have wandered far far away for some time.  Some of us maybe a few days where we have been too busy to hear his voice, be in the Word.  And in that moment when we realize this, we, the sheep perk up our ears and our Father comes after us calling us, leading us back to Him.  It was us that strayed, and it is Him that brings us back.

I love that kind of love.

"Bring Me Back"
(click to listen) (May need to turn your music volume up- it's soft)

Sometimes it seems
you're so far away
on the days that are hard for me

When the going gets tough
Is it me that backs away
not trusting in the way of who You are?

(chorus)
So bring me back
back to the place
Where I know your voice
know your face

Bring me back
to the place I love
I've been wandering far enough
----
I know I'm the one
The one who's been on the run
running from what You have have planned for me

Jesus hold me now
Jesus show me how
to lay down my life
so you can pick me up again

(chorus)

-bridge-
I know I pick and choose
which day I plan to use
your Word as my guide
Oh Lord, open my eyes

(chorus)

I am learning that "I'm doing the best for my son" has too much me in it.

Let me explain:

Tonight we were reflecting on the situation at school with my son.  The school expanded from 600 to 700 students and they added portable classrooms and new teachers. I don't feel they went about it the right way, they sent a letter home last Friday explaining what was happening, not naming which students would be moved.  I didn't say anything to Walter b/c I didn't want him to worry about anything.  Besides, we didn't know if it would even affect him then.

They separated and moved Walter yesterday and THEN he brought a letter home last night stating he was being moved to another added class.  I am irritated by this, I felt the letter should have come home a day earlier, giving the parents a chance to discuss this situation with their children, reassuring them it would be okay.

I have a neighbor who has their daughter in a school that is part time classroom, part time homeschool.  This, to me, is the best of both worlds.  I feel Walter can move so much further if I could do one on one instruction, but I also know the importance of a classroom setting and the dynamics it brings. 

And "I want the best for my son" came to my mind when thinking about school and Walter.  Two things occurred to me:

1.  Too much of "me" is is that statement.  "I" and "my" and only one "son" - and ultimately, we want the best for our children, but do we want it too much?  If he doesn't get the best, will he not be good enough for ...who...me?

2.  what is best for him?  As a believer in our redeemer, Christ, shouldn't I believe that the very best for Walter is what the Lord has in store?  Aren't His plans the best?  Shouldn't they trump mine?  Yes, and even when it means stepping back and it may possibly mean Walter may get in trouble.

Walter may need to learn this year, perhaps more than any other year...that the choices you make in friends will affect you good or bad.  He already mentioned a situation this morning where our neighor friend tried to get Walter to go "the wrong way" and (Walter did not) but the other kid- "he didn't get in trouble, but he got caught."

As much as I dislike hearing this, it was a great opportunity to explain that even if he never got caught, the fact that he did it knowing it was wrong was bad, it was sinful and God always knows, always sees..... perhaps that was a good lesson.

And so maybe I need to take a step down, back away from what I think is best...and let Walter learn what it means to choose wisely in friends, how to follow someone who is trustworthy...

I realize that my life has been a little...well...nuts lately.

Jeff is in between jobs, we're searching for direction and the fast paced day to day craziness never seems to slow down, especially lately.

The other day I realized I was treating God like a toy.  I would put Him back in the box when I was done talking or praying, and then continue on my day.  I haven't been disciplined to stay in the Word.  I talk to Him, but only when it's conveniant for me.  Like a toy.  When I want to talk to Him, I bring him out of the box.  When I'm ready to listen, or read scripture, I take Him out of the box.  When I get busy?  Back in the box He goes.

Wow, what an insult to the Master of the Universe, Creator of the Heavens and the Earth!!  I am so glad He doesn't put me in a box telling me He'll get to me when it's conveniant. 

God doesn't belong in any box.  We often say "Don't put God in a box" meaning don't limit what you think you know about God...He can do more than what we could ever imagine.

But adding to that familiar phrase, let's not put God in a box and neglect the most important relationship we could ever have.  Let's not forget He desires an intimacy that can only be attainedy by acknowledging constantly that He is there beside us and sent His Holy Spirit to be within us.

And THE most important thing we could do EVERY day is talk to Him.  Walk with Him as He walked in the gardens in the beginning with Adam. 

How do we know that someone's intentions were bad?  Did a car really cut us off or were they just not paying attention? 

Carrie came home from preschool talking about a boy who, in her view, wasn't very nice to her.  After hearing the story, it occurred to me that perhaps the boy didn't realize he was being mean.  Did she communicate that it hurt her feelings or that she wanted to play ball and they weren't playing with her?

"Carrie, I'm not sure (so and so) meant to be mean.  If you didn't say anything, he probably didn't even realize you had your feelings hurt."

I was hoping that this would lighten her mood and she'd brush it off, forget about it and move on.

Then, as soon as that came out my mouth, I realized that I had to take my own  medicine.

I have a habit of later disecting a situation from the past and perhaps looking at it through a skewed lense.
A discussion can seem like an argument, an innocent look my way can seem like a stare...when the original intention was never supposed to be negative.  And Satan knows this and he uses it against me.  And it eats inside me to where it is so difficult to find peace sometimes.

And so, in that moment, I realized that I needed to step back and not personalize everything.  Let things bounce off my shoulders. 

I think it safe to assume that most of the time, when I feel offended by something or someone, whatever was said or whatever the action - it was never meant to be offensive in the first place.