Four years ago, Billy and I were introduced to a ministry that was perfect for us and for the guys at IFI. It was called -Experiencing the Father's Embrace-By Jack Frost. The foundational principle was that it was difficult to experience God's unconditional love when you had a parent, especially a father who demonstrated the opposite. Most of the men in prison had absent or abusive fathers. Forgiveness for their fathers or themselves as fathers was impossible to imagine. We would give talks about our own experiences with forgiveness and then pray with the guys. Tears and hugs were shared as Billy and the other male volunteers would stand in for their fathers and ask for forgiveness. When the guards would ask us to leave at 8:45,many of them were crying.
I have been able to forgive my parents and myself as a parent by recognizing God's gentle nudges through memories and circumstances. We aren't wounded in one event and usually it takes several prayers to feel a healed heart. This last year since Billy's absence I felt my father's absence again. My prayers for myself and from others has been that I recognize my Daddy God's presence in a deeper way. I have prayed to forgive my earthly dad again and I have found God's faithful love in everything from hugs from friends to the beautiful cardinals that show up in the shadow of the trees, to the wonderful worship that I experienced at Calvary Community Church this morning.
How do you experience God's love? If you don't, do you need to forgive a parent or anyone?
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2 comments:
I experienced God's love this week-end by being on a quiet retreat at the Villa de Matel led by my good friend, Marie Noack. Love is tangible there: in nature, the building, the art work, others gathered with me, the prayers of the sisters, and in the quiet where God speaks the loudest of His love.
I also experienced God's love by a home visit from my son, Micah, who came to a UH/TxTech football game. He didn't bring my new grandson, Nolan, but Micah brought the love he and his wife have experienced through God sending a tiny new creation to them and our family and the world. The gift of love keeps going on and on and on.....
Sometime I feel like the prodical son and sometimes the older son and sometimes the right way. Lately, I feel more like the prodical ... but I experience God's gentle nudging to keep moving forward ... keep looking for his face ... keep trusting in his faithfulness to override my blowing it or not doing enough of the right thing ... just keep going ... step by step ... make a good decision now ...trust God now ... trust in his love now ... and know that he is holding my hand and encouraging me to press on whether I'm sick in bed, being lazy, choosing the road most traveled, or humbling myself to ask him to lead and take the reigns again ... today ... now.
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