Sirach 17:24-29 (CEB)
And we’re back into the Wisdom of Sirach!
Turning back to God – coming home to God… Jesus’ story about the Prodigal Son was perhaps more engaging and more memorable – but it’s basically the same message that we hear through the Old Testament – God longs to welcome his people home, God longs for her people to turn and run back into her arms…
Until recently I had always read these passages from the perspective of the one needing to run back to God. But recently I have started to read from from the other perspective – the perspective of God who LOVES to see his children come home.
It’s probably because my kids have all been away at university and there have been MANY coming-home moments – and maybe it’s also because our oldest is about to fly the nest in a more permanent fashion – getting a job and setting up home independantly from us!
I have built up a fine collection of selfie’s taken with my kids as they come home.
Here’s Carys coming home at Christmas:
Here’s Hywel coming home from Miami:
I reckon God loves it just the same when you or I take a step back towards home…