When my girls were little, their birthday parties were the highlight of their year. It was different from all other parties because this party was just about them. There was, however a problem when we would take them to someone else’s party; they didn’t understand why that party wasn’t about them too.
The older brother’s jealously was worn like a badge of pride. He was jealous that he’d never gotten a shindig thrown in his honor; let’s face it, he was the good one! Why had his Dad never thought about giving him an ‘I love you son’ party? Don’t you think he felt left out? On a similar note, no one went out into the fields to get him to bring him home to share in the party. The scripture just says ‘when the older brother got home’. I can only imagine what that felt like; probably like when you walk into a room and everyone becomes strangely silent. Your immediate conclusion is that they were saying bad things about you and that’s why they all stopped. It’s embarrassing! Don’t you think the older brother was embarrassed and his pride would not let him hold in his self-righteousness for one more minute? My grandmother used to tell me “whatever is in someone’s heart will come out eventually.”
I wonder sometimes about our welcome into heaven; will there be a lot of older brothers and sisters who are looking around upon my arrival thinking, “how in the world did she get here? She didn’t keep all the rules or do things ‘the right way’. I imagine I’ll just smile and say, “My father loved me with everything he had, even when I was the black sheep and made a mess of things; I knew when to look for home. God was my solace in those moments of repentance.” Praise God for second chances and for the party awaiting us all when we all get to heaven. I can’t wait to see what the Father has prepared.
Sandy Welfare
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