It’s nice to be back at my keyboard and catching up with the world o’ blog, although it was a wonderful week away. We all need to step away from time to time, don’t we? 

I’ve returned to a busy week, but it’s a good kind of busy, as my girls are coming home this week! We’re having an early Thanksgiving and a birthday celebration for my oldest, as she turns an astonishing 22! While I see my youngest fairly frequently, as she goes to school only a couple of hours away, my oldest lives 24 hours and several states away! We haven’t seen her since May and, like the cry of the old Wolf Brand Chili commercial, “well, that’s too long”!! 
When you have a child that lives far away, they don’t have to be a prodigal for you to be able to identify with the prodigal’s father in Luke 15:11-31. While you love the phone calls and emails, you can easily find yourself looking to the horizon everyday for your child’s return. When you know that day’s coming you tend to pull out all the stops, shopping for their favorite treats and planning things to do that you know they’ll love. It really doesn’t matter if they bring home a basket of dirty laundry or even a slew of problems that need sorting out; you’re just thrilled beyond words to have them home. In short, you bring out your best “robe” and “ring” and prepare the fatted calf. 
The times that I prepare for my girls to be home never cease to make me think about God’s expectant waiting where we’re concerned. I imagine Him looking to the horizon each day to see me coming for my visit, always ready with His best. Never mind the load of mistakes and blunders that I might lug with me; He’s just happy to see me – perhaps even happier when I do bring a load, because He’s so ready to take that burden from me. And, as much as I know He relishes His time with me on this side of heaven, I know that He’ll come running to greet me with royal splendor when I arrive home for good.
But when He was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him…”Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fatted calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate!”
Luke 15:20, 22-23 NIV
So, I am preparing the fatted calf, or, in our case, turkey. I’m waiting expectantly for hugs and laughter and time, face-to-face. And, with Thanksgiving in my heart, relishing the fact that my Father is pacing at the gate, in anticipation of an eternity of the same with me.