Dad Told Me to Tell You Something

I have two brothers by blood, and they are awesome dudes.They are saved by the blood of Jesus and answer to our Abba Father.I am so grateful for this, as it means I get to keep on living with them for all eternity.Here’s a pic of them when they were young’uns.

Here’s one of all three of us….at my wedding – also, “back in the day.”

I love my brothers and their lovely families….. with all my heart!

I never had any sisters by blood. In a way, I didn’t mind it all that much, because my brothers were just so very RAD.

However, I definitely realize that there are other brothers and sisters of mine out there in this world – lost ones – ones who have left home. They number in the thousands.

They got really mad at our dad and just…..took off. I still talk to them, but they just won’t talk to my dad at all. And they won’t come back home.

This makes me so very sad.

For a long time, I just tried to keep the peace and stay out of their business. After all, it’s between them and dad, not them and me. But I have realized this is very selfish of me.

So, I have decided to start to tell them like it is.

Because I love them too – with all my heart.

They may still not decide to make peace with dad or come back home, but I have to keep on trying.

Because love? Well, it just never fails. People might, but love doesn’t.

“Yah, Yeah..I know you say, “He’s not my dad.” You say it all the time! Whatever, bro. You know that He is, and I get it – you’re mad. But I am your sister, and you can’t even deny it. Don’t even try, because I won’t let you. He said to tell you that He knows that you’re mad and all, but that you are welcome to come back. You don’t even have to get yourself all straightened out first – He said He’d be there for you no matter what. He said he’d help you with all of it.”

“He also said that He loves you and you may not feel like He does, but it’s true. Just because He doesn’t agree with the fact that you left, and some of the stuff you’ve been doing, well, it doesn’t change that.”

“C’mon, man! You are acting like you did when we were little kids, bro. I mean, don’t you remember how mad we would get when He didn’t give us our way back then? I don’t know about you, but I am glad that He didn’t “show us He loved us” by letting us just do whatever the heck we wanted without trying to stop us. And look how messed up things get even with that help from Him that we got! I can’t even imagine how much worse it would be if He hadn’t done that. Haven’t you ever thought about that?”

“I mean, don’t you remember that time when I wanted to get my curfew changed to match up to what all my friends were getting to do? I really thought it was unfair that they all got to stay out later, and here I was, perfect A student, responsible chick, the one with the good morals and values, and dad wouldn’t let me stay out later. Yeah…those kids ended up being arrested one night after I had left to come home.”

“But I was still mad about it, wasn’t I? I still translated that into “what a mean dad” and didn’t see the love in that situation at all! I wanted what I wanted and that was that. And if I didn’t get it, well, He was just the tyrant and unloving father, wasn’t he?”

“I don’t think I even thanked Him or let alone, apologized to Him after that – even after seeing quite clearly that He most definitely saved my rear by not letting me change my curfew, I treated Him like crud. And He still loved me – just like He still loves you. He didn’t hold it over my head, or use it to make me love Him better, or try to teach me a  lesson, or plead His own case. He knew it was right loving, and knew I’d hate Him for it, and that maybe, just maybe, one day I would see His love for me and embrace it.  Why do you think it would be any different for you?”

“That’s where I see you being right now, bro. And it really sucks. It sucks, as your sibling to see you doing this to dad and to yourself. Mostly, because I love you and I love Him and it breaks my heart to see you hating Him and hating yourself.”

“Here’s the kicker…and I say this as your sister in  love, man. Dad is always going to love you and so am I. But we would be a crappy family if we didn’t tell you how extremely important it is that you get your butt back home, like YESTERDAY!”

“I’m not kidding around, man. You know I have told you this before, and it is serious! That day I talked about last time we met up? Well, it’s coming and soon. I was reading those plans that Dad drew up years ago again yesterday. Dude, they are no joke! These are detailed plans, brother. There is no way this is not happening – it is! Dad can’t tell me when, but He keeps on saying “I just know, and when it happens you will not be left behind – don’t worry.” But He keeps telling me to go and get my brother. And He is getting more and more concerned, man, I am not kidding you!”

“It’s going to break His heart if you don’t get back home man. Mine too. I do not want to see you left behind. When we have to go, we have to go, and I kind of feel like Dad has only been waiting this long because He wants to give you as much opportunity to get back home with us before we leave. But, I can see it clear as day, man…He is getting more and more concerned. I can see this urgency in His face, and I can almost feel His heart breaking when I see it. And He is more concerned for you than for anything else, so don’t even try to say it’s about selfishness!”

“Plus, I don’t know if you have ever considered this, but do you realize that there are actually other people at risk here? If you would just stop being so stubborn, maybe we could all get going already! You aren’t helping the others out by being this way either. But most of all, you are hurting yourself, man.”

I know you probably don’t feel right now like you care about that much, because I can tell you don’t like yourself very much at this time  in your life. You know that I don’t say any of this to guilt trip you, just to help you see that you might want to consider that as well. I mean, you are basically throwing away a great thing here. ”

“I do know this: It is not gonna be good – at all – to be left behind, man. I know you think you are doing all right, but I can tell you don’t feel all that great about your situation. And, at least you know we are still around –  Dad, me, all of us in your family are waiting for you to come back. But when it’s time to leave, if you aren’t there, even though we will continue to love you, there will be no way for you to join us right away. You will have to hang in there by yourself – truly by yourself! And it is going to get ugly in this world.  You may think it is already, but Dad told me what is going to be happening, and He has told you too. You know deep down in your heart that He is always right about these things – I know you know it. Don’t miss out just because you are so angry!”

“Take a look around, man! Open your eyes! This isn’t just a bunch of made up dreams, man. Everything Dad said is actually happening all  around us. And I believe Him that it will get worse. I have been trying to hold back and give you time to come to your own conclusions, but now I have to get tough with you man, because I don’t want you to miss it. I wouldn’t be a very good sister if I didn’t tell you how urgent this is, now would I?”

“Please just search your heart man and act upon it right away. What do you have to lose except for this miserable existence that never fully satisfies you or brings you joy? I mean, Dad even said you don’t have to be all fixed up and perfect and put back together to come back home! Don’t you get that?”

“You may still feel a bit angry with Him, but He’s willing to work it all out. Why aren’t you?”

“You just have to come back home. We’ll all help you, man. We are messed up too, you know. We all help each other.You just have to come back home.”

“You can still not fully understand His love for you, can you? You don’t have to fully understand everything right now.  You just have to accept it and let Him back into your heart and your life. You just have to come back home.”

“Won’t you think about it, at least? You know where He is. He said He’d be there whenever you want to talk with Him about it. Any time, day or night.”

“But as your sister, I have to tell you, I wouldn’t delay any longer if I were you.”

“You don’t even need to pack anything.”

“Dad told me to tell you – He’s got all that you need at home.”

“And He loves you. He loves you so very, very much.”

“And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 ESV

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