Prodigal:  I am so glad that you stopped by!

 

Me:  What is going on?

 

Prodigal:  Just I am reminded of thoughts of the past couple of years and would like some insight.

 

Me:  I can give you a story from Start Where You Are by Chuck Swindoll.  I hope it helps!

 

Joseph after suffering years of abuse brought on by his hateful brothers’ mistreatment, he lived to see the day when the tables were turned.  Joseph was powerful, wealthy, respected, and surrounded by bodyguards.  His brothers were weak, broke, unprotected, guilty to the core.  It was his moment to unleash his rage and retribution.  And these guys had it coming…in spades!

Instead, the son of Jacob and Rachel did the unexpected.

His action shocked his brothers down to their worn-out sandals.  After all those years of guilt and dread and self-recrimination, he wasn’t going to spring a get-even attack?  Not even a tongue-lashing?  As it turned out, those who so richly deserved hatred and retribution received love and forgiveness.  And the rest is history…..beautiful, beautiful history.

 

I know what you did.  I saw it all.  I choose not tell others or you.  You thought you could go behind closed doors and pull others in to do this and that for the Lord’s name.  I was not naive.  I choose to stay.  I choose to take the suffering.  Why would I do that?

For this day.  This day to say that from the beginning.  I have been able to see God’s love for you!  God told me to stay and love you.  God told me that HE wants HIS LOVE to Be SEEN!   I forgive you for it all.  I just want you to really see that God’s love and his grace is so MUCH MORE than rules and our own selfish plans

 

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved—Ephesians 2:4-5

 

Jennifer Van Allen

 

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org