Do you remember the Bible story of the prodigal son? Here is a quick summary:

A man had two sons. One of them, the younger brother, grew weary of being at home, learning the family business. He wanted to “see the world.” He asked his father for “his share” of the inheritance. Reluctantly the father agreed. The young son took the money, left the family property and found new friends. As the story goes, the money was soon gone, wasted on frivolous living. The son found himself hungry, homeless and friendless. He got a job caring for pigs (not appropriate work for a Jewish boy); and his hunger led him to almost eat the food that he was serving to the swine. After a time, destitute he decided to return home and to beg his father for a job; he knew that the workers at the family business lived and ate better than he did caring for animals. As he arrived home, humbled and wiser than when he left, his father saw him. The father ran to his son, hugging him, welcoming him, restoring him into the family. The one who was lost was home!!!

I love this story. It reminds me of the promise of God that if I return to Him, regardless of what I have done or where I have been, that He will hear my plea for forgiveness, forgive me and welcome me home. I was once a prodigal, but, Praise God, He welcomed me home!

In the middle of the Christmas craziness, may we think about those who are estranged in some way.

• Some have experienced the death of a loved one. This is a horrible time as they mourn again their loss; it seems that, in their grief, they are even more distanced from family and friends.
• Others are unable to be with family. I think of our service members so far from home and of their loved ones who keep the home fires burning. Yes, it is absolutely possible to celebrate Christmas on any day of the year but that fact doesn’t make the day of December 25th any easier.
• Some are alone either voluntarily or because of circumstances they do not control. For many years, John and I have spent much of the Christmas holiday in hotels. The workers we see, preparing our breakfast, at the front desk, preparing rooms are probably not spending the day as they would like. Others choose to be alone, but just because they made that choice does not mean that they are not lonely.
• Many are sick, infirm, elderly. The world they know is limited; their Christmas is so different from years in the past.
• Still others are like the example of the prodigal son. They have separated themselves from their loving Creator and are living in disobedience and defiance. They do not how to change their future or if change is even possible.

A small group gathers in our church coffee shop each Sunday morning. Our circle meets before the alarm clock has rung in most other homes. And we pray. We pray for the activities of the day, churches in our area, pastors who came out of our church, our brothers and sisters in Cuba, our pastor and teachers, and we pray for those who are lost. As we pray, I always remember our Pastor’s frequent reminder to us that as we pray for the prodigals in our lives that we may be the answer to the prayers of one who has a prodigal in their life.

Maybe that neighbor who seems to always frown has a loved one praying that someone will make them smile. Could you be that someone?

Maybe the one who is so very alone just needs someone to chat at the mailbox. Would you be that friend?

Maybe the one who is living in sin, in disobedience to their Heavenly Father has someone praying for them. Will you share Christ with them? Through your loving outreach a soul, a life, a marriage, a family may be saved.

Jesus calls us to be His ambassadors.

Let’s get to work; time is slipping away.

(I know that I have work to do.)

Love,

Jill (just one of God’s kids)

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)