The Lost Son...

Last week I took my children to the zoo, we had a wonderful time... all the animals were active and performing. We even found 2 baby turtles out crawling around that the boys got to hold for a few minutes, letting them crawl in their hands and up their arms. We had a nice picnic and enjoyed laying on a blanket in the sunshine.

All was fine until we were ready to leave. We were walking back towards the entrance and David was running ahead of me. He knew our rule, which is that he can go ahead of me as long as I can still see him. However, he decided to not abide by the rules, his way was more fun at the moment. So he ran on ahead, rounded a curve, which we rounded about 30 seconds later, and he was NO WHERE to be seen. I stayed calm, I thought he was just in front of us and we would see him when we took a quick left to go to the entrance. We took that left and he was still NO WHERE TO BE SEEN... panic began to set in, but I stayed outwardly calm because I did not want to get Paul upset... he had already said, "Mommy, I am worried about my brother."

We looked for him for about 10 to 15 minutes and I could not find him anywhere... then I began to panic, because I had no idea which direction I should go in. I was heading to the gift shop to ask if they could get someone to help me search for him when I see him walking with a stranger, holding his hand... the stranger said, "Is this your mommy?" David very calmly replied yes... he did not appear to be the least bit afraid!

I thanked the stranger profusely and asked where he had found him. He told me he had found David in the parking lot sitting on a curb! He had walked out of the entrance to the zoo, across the street, and into the parking lot!

We had a long talk about all the things that could have happened:

• He could have gotten hit or run over by a car
• He could have been taken by a stranger and never seen Mommy, Daddy, or Paul again
• The stranger could have hurt him badly, and on and on...

I wanted him to understand the seriousness of the situation... which I still do not think he has grasped yet...


As I think back over this, the parable of the lost sheep keeps coming to my mind... It is from Luke 15:1-7

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. ²Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." ³So He told them this parable, saying, ⁴"What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it. ⁵"When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶"And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' 7"I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

What I keep pondering is did the sheep even know it was lost? It had once been part of the herd, but now it was no longer with the herd, it was missing. I do not think David realized he was lost or missing... He did not even comprehend that he was in danger. I find it interesting what the footnote in my Bible stated about this portion of scripture:

"...the shepherd who loses his sheep, does not give up the right of ownership. In the same manner, God is presented as still claiming His right of ownership even of those who are lost. When they are reclaimed, it is not He who becomes their Father or their rightful owner, but they become His again."

This brings me much comfort and encouragement... because I have friends and family members who have prodigals in their lives. Prodigals who were brought up in the church, who made professions of faith, and who at some point in their lives served God. My prayer is that they would allow God to find them, the God that is still their Father; that they would stop running from Him, and possibly even allow a stranger to lead them home... where they will become His again, hopefully to never stray again. When that happens there will be much rejoicing in Heaven and here on earth among friends and family... as I have rejoiced over finding my lost son!


Any thoughts... I would love to hear from you!