the joy of the father

I was much like the older brother when God set my husband free...

While the Father was rejoicing, my heart threw daggers,
I spat,
I resented,
my heart raged within me.

I didn't think I had deserved to live through those days of the locusts,
those years that had been eaten and destroyed.

I deserved better, I deserved the party the younger brother was receiving who...

was brought out of the gallows,
back from death,
up from the muck,
to God,
to his father.

The older son raged, "'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property...comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

'My son, the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" Luke 15:29-32

Thank You for giving me a heart to see with new eyes and a full heart those who have been rescued, those who are no longer feasting with the pigs, those who have returned, whom You have brought back.

God, would you cause me and believers everywhere to be those who rejoice over the lives that are redeemed, found, saved, transformed. Would you drive out every drop of bitterness, resentment, selfishness and give hearts of compassion, joy, perseverance, worship. Help me honor You.

I love You. Thanks for loving me first.