Today’s Readings: Psalm 72; Isaiah 60:1-7; Matthew 2:1-12; Ephesians 3:1-12; Psalm 68
One of the people I’ve worked with over the years was a gentleman in his mid-60’s. The gentleman adored children throughout his entire life; in fact, he was the father of three children himself. Several years before I met the gentleman, his wife had unexpectedly asked him for a divorce. In the decade that followed his divorce, two of his children refused any contact with him. This nearly killed the gentleman. He was convinced that he would never again see his children, and despair naturally overtook him. Then – after a decade had passed – one of his estranged children suddenly reached out to him. His other child followed suit shortly thereafter. The two reunions the gentleman never dreamed would happen in his lifetime – happened! I thought of that situation today as I read the words of hope and reunion from the book of Isaiah. A portion of those words read: “Your sons coming from great distances, your daughters carried by their nannies. When you see them coming you’ll smile-big smiles! Your heart will swell and, yes, burst!” (Isaiah 60:4 from The Message). As I read those words, I couldn’t help but think how quick we are to write off the troubled relationships in our lives. Our pride and our sense of ego often become barriers that make reconciliation seem impossible. Thankfully, words like those from the book of Isaiah remind us that the healing presence of God can do the work of reconciliation that we would otherwise think impossible. Perhaps there is a relationship in your life that you’ve given up on – a relationship that you think is beyond redemption. If that’s the case, take some time today and invite God’s healing presence into that relationship. You make not experience an immediate reconciliation with the other person, but chances are you’ll begin to experience an initial sense of healing within yourself as you begin to let go of despair and open yourself to hope. Til next time…
One of the people I’ve worked with over the years was a gentleman in his mid-60’s. The gentleman adored children throughout his entire life; in fact, he was the father of three children himself. Several years before I met the gentleman, his wife had unexpectedly asked him for a divorce. In the decade that followed his divorce, two of his children refused any contact with him. This nearly killed the gentleman. He was convinced that he would never again see his children, and despair naturally overtook him. Then – after a decade had passed – one of his estranged children suddenly reached out to him. His other child followed suit shortly thereafter. The two reunions the gentleman never dreamed would happen in his lifetime – happened! I thought of that situation today as I read the words of hope and reunion from the book of Isaiah. A portion of those words read: “Your sons coming from great distances, your daughters carried by their nannies. When you see them coming you’ll smile-big smiles! Your heart will swell and, yes, burst!” (Isaiah 60:4 from The Message). As I read those words, I couldn’t help but think how quick we are to write off the troubled relationships in our lives. Our pride and our sense of ego often become barriers that make reconciliation seem impossible. Thankfully, words like those from the book of Isaiah remind us that the healing presence of God can do the work of reconciliation that we would otherwise think impossible. Perhaps there is a relationship in your life that you’ve given up on – a relationship that you think is beyond redemption. If that’s the case, take some time today and invite God’s healing presence into that relationship. You make not experience an immediate reconciliation with the other person, but chances are you’ll begin to experience an initial sense of healing within yourself as you begin to let go of despair and open yourself to hope. Til next time…
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