Missing Child Alert!

Sunday evening, I was at a social event with my little family—dad, mom and toddler son. I decided to give my son a moment of freedom and in an instant, he disappeared from my sight amidst the crowd. When I realized he hadn’t thought to turn back and find ‘mommy’, I went after him. He was no where in sight! He couldn’t be far, I thought to myself, so I didn’t panic but I looked about with urgency. Still no where. Then I called his dad who joined the search. Next, I began to ask people around…no one noticed him. We kept our demeanor but searched all the more intently. What if he followed a stranger? What if he left the building and was wandering the streets? What if someone found him, planning to harm him? Or could someone be playing a cruel, cruel joke on me???:

Punked: Negligent mom punished!

As I moved about, all I could think of was how he could possibly be looking for me just as frantically; and the more I looked, the further away I would get from him. But giving all glory to God, I found him playing alone in a remote section of the building. Needless to say he spent a long time in time out (although I would have chosen to help him to a good spanking if it were convenient).

Sitting here tonight I consider the feelings I experienced during those 15 or so minutes, and I began to wonder how the Lord feels when I wander from Him…

We had such a close, intimate and tightly bonded relationship…wouldn’t you think I would have turned back to Him right away?

But still I wander.

And yet the Lord stands on with hope in His eyes.

She can’t go far; she’s my child. I paid for her with a special price—My precious Blood; she’s mine! But where did she go? What is she looking for? What if someone hurts her? What if she’s looking for me in all the wrong places?

For a clearer picture, I am reminded of the scripture in Revelations 2:2-5

2 I know your industry and activities, laborious toil and trouble, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot tolerate wicked [men] and have tested and critically appraised those who call [themselves] apostles (special messengers of Christ) and yet are not, and have found them to be impostors and liars.3 I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name’s sake, and you have not fainted or become exhausted or grown weary.4 But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love].5 Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God’s will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent. (Amplified version)

So I have a crucial role to play. He expects me to turn around and return to him…another word for ‘turn around’ is repent. And as any parent would know, nothing is better than a child running lovingly back into your arms. It sure beats having to snatching him/her up so you can discipline them.

-Lyrics by tia 2011