My youngest daughter lives the closest to us distance wise. She is only a 1 ½ hour drive from our house. That means we get to see her family more often than our other kids. She and her husband have two children. And those kids love their grandma!

When the lockdown for Covid-19 hit in 2020, we went a while without visiting them. While we were able to video chat with them almost daily, those little ones, who were 2 and 4 at the time, really missed their grandma. When we couldn’t stand it any longer, we drove down there to spend some time with them.

I pulled into their driveway and got out of the car first. Cheryl was gathering up some thing out of the back seat, probably some gifts for the kids. As I was walking up to the door, it flew open and out came our grandchildren. I opened my arms to give them a hug! But they ran around me, one on one side and one on the other, shouting “Grandma! Grandma! Grandma!”  My daughter witnessed this and immediately said, “Oh dad, I’m sorry!”  I laughed it off. I know they love me, but I also know Cheryl is #1 in their hearts. And that is okay. I love to see how much they love their Grandma. And the feeling is mutual. Seeing the three of them embrace, you could tell there was a lot of joy. I’m sure the separation from their grandmother must have seemed like an eternity, which is why they ran to greet her. And when they were done, they gave me hugs, too!

Remembering those kids running to embrace their grandmother made me think of the Father in prodigal son running to meet his son. After a separation that must have seemed like an eternity, not knowing if he would ever return, the Father saw his son coming home.

“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

At that moment, nothing else mattered. He had to get to his Son. For all he knew, his son could have been dead, but here he was alive!  The lost was found! Joy was overflowing.

The love of the father for his son in that parable is meant to show us the love our Father has for us. He wants nothing but the best for us all. He wants us to be with Him, forever. And He did what was necessary for that to happen. He let Jesus take our sins on Himself and make complete payment for them in our place.

The son in the parable was repentant and hoping for mercy. It worked out for him better than he could ever have hoped!

When you and I cling to our Savior in faith, going to our Father in repentance, the unimaginable happens: we are given complete cleansing and healing and restoration.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

Children that your Father runs out to embrace.