The Prodigal Returns...The Rest of the Story

A few weeks ago I told you a story about how my cat, Bucky Boy, came to be a member of my family. Well, what I didn't tell you was there was more to the story. Can we say drama?!!

It all began when my cat Bonnie disappeared...

After about three weeks of life with my new kittens, (and did I mention we also had a chocolate lab named Abbie?) I was at our surveying office one Thursday morning doing payroll. My husband gets a phone call and leaves abruptly, not even explaining where he's going. An hour or more passes and he sticks his head in the front door and asks me to come out on the porch. He says there's someone who wants to see me. When I walk out onto the porch, the first thing I see is a skinny, frightened, black cat, that is, no doubt, my Bonnie.

Tears of joy and happiness begin to flow unashamedly. She is covered in filth and the odor is almost more than I can bear, but it's my sweet Bonnie and at that moment, it doesn't matter. I hold her close to me while my tears soak into her fur. She is terrified though and as much I know she is happy to see me, the past three weeks have taken their toll. Her little body is shaking and as she tries pulling away from me, I want her to understand she's safe now.

Bonnie

My prodigal had returned dirty, scared and hungry. I didn't scold her for being gone. I lavished all the love I had to give on her. I whispered sweet words in her ears of how much she was missed. I gave her the best food I could buy filled with nutrients to put meat back on her bones. After I'd regained her trust, I washed away the filth of her wandering ways. She couldn't do it herself, there were places she couldn't reach. It took awhile for the sparkle to return in her eyes and she eventually learned to trust again.

Yes, she was just a cat but isn't that the picture the Bible paints of a loving God ... a God who runs to meet His wayward child. He doesn't care what we've done, how bad we smell from the stench of the world. He just wants to lavish His great love on us. He can cleanse us from the inside out ... reach those places of hurt and pain that we could never reach in our humanity.  He wants to feed us with the Bread of Life so we'll never be hungry for anything this world has to offer. He will clothe us with His righteousness for we are royalty when we belong to Him. He longs to embrace us and whisper His great love for us ... His unfailing love.

Do you have a prodigal in your family? Maybe they desperately want to come home but need to know they will be welcomed with open arms, no questions asked. Show them the love of Christ. They could be trapped in a situation beyond their control and can't make it home. God still answers prayers. Don't give up on your prodigal. As long as they're on this side of heaven, hope is alive.

Maybe you are the prodigal and need courage to go home. I've been a prodigal and can tell you there is nothing like being wrapped in the embrace of a loving God. He will welcome you home and never leave you. Your family will probably do the same.

My prodigal was happy to be home ... not so happy about the newest family members. And where had she been for three weeks? She'd been trapped under our neighbors house. The call my husband received was from the neighbor. You never know what a day will bring.

"So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, 

his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him;

he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."

Luke 15:20 NIV

Blessings from My Little Corner,
Cindy

Birthday Ponderings...Chosen To Be Loved

I went for a pedicure this week. It just happened to be the day after my birthday and I was sharing a story with my technician about a birthday of several years ago...actually a double gift.

My cat, Bonnie, had disappeared and I was in deep mourning for I loved my cat, as I have loved every cat since my first at the age of 12. My husband said, "why don't you go the the animal shelter and pick out a kitten for your birthday." Well, I thought this to be a splendid idea. It would help me through the grieving process of losing Bonnie.

So, I ventured down to the local animal shelter and wandered the aisles till my eyes fell upon a cage with TWO pair of eyes staring back at me. They screamed, "take US home with you." Well what's a girl to do but oblige? We took care of the necessary paperwork and the next day I returned to pick up my two new family members.

Sweet "Bucky Boy"

My husband was very understanding for he knows my tender heart. That was 13 years ago and one of them is still living. My "Bucky Boy" is the sweetest, most lovable cat I've ever had. It's as though he knew I rescued him from certain death...I chose him.

I was chosen too, before the foundation of the world was laid. (Eph 1:4) I was chosen to know the one true God, but I lived my life wanting to be chosen for all the wrong reasons. It wasn't until I came to realize my worth was not in what I thought of myself, but what He says OF me and ABOUT me that my perspective changed.

He also says in Psalm 139:16: All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. So not only did He choose me, but He wrote out my days in a book...my story. How deeply personal is that? Can any other religion even come close? I think not. It can't because it's a relationship between me, a human, and a holy God.

He chose you too! If you're breathing and moving about on planet Earth He wants to write an ending to your story in His book...The Book of Life.

For God so loved the world

that He gave His one and only Son

that whoever believes in Him

shall not perish 

but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Read it with new eyes...as if you've never read it before. Christ can give you eternal life. My cat is going to die someday and I will miss him terribly....I certainly wouldn't give my life for him even though I chose him.

The One who chose me DID give His life for me...and you! I've received many gifts and celebrated many birthdays since, but none will ever equal the gift I received in His Son. Maybe today is your day to add a new name to the book, The Book of Life, real life, abundant life!

Blessings from My Little Corner,
Cindy