"A Family Like God's" (Part 12)

“So he got up and went to his father. But while 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. The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.” (Luke 15:20-23 NIV).

Today we will look at the seventh principle of in developing a family like God’s: Never allow the other to come home without a warm welcome. Home ought to be a place of peace and security. You can communicate this with a warm welcome when your spouse or your children arrive. Don’t be too disappointed if it is seemingly ignored or taken for granted. Most good things are in our busy lives. But, they make a huge difference in the crises of life. Can you imagine what the Prodigal would have done if he didn’t feel he could have gone home? The story may have had a much different ending.

It’s so easy to take for granted that we will have “another day.” We often get into a habitual pattern of believing that we will have more time to do all the things that we know we should do. I doubt there’s anyone who would argue the opposite view of this seventh principle. Yet, it is one of the most neglected relational skills we have. It’s one of the reasons that our children feel more comfortable at school or with their friends. It’s the basis for the development of every estrangement that exists in families today. When you feel more “at home” with someone else, it becomes easy to go with them instead of your family.

It all begins with creating a sense of safety and security at home. What better way to do that than making a commitment to warmly welcome each other when you get home for the day? Because of my travel schedule this past year I have been able to see David and Becca pretty often; and, of course, I see Kyle, Brandy, Faith and Logan, each week. However, it has been quite sometime since I’ve been able to see Aaron. He has been busy with school and we just haven’t made it down to Baton Rouge. Just the other day he told me he was planning on coming “home” the first part of August! What a thrill it will be to see him for an extended period of time! And, what a joy to know that he wants to come “home.” I know his home is now in Baton Rouge, but as with all of my children, my desire is to make sure they know their anchor point is where Mary and I live, as long as we live. That began many years ago.

For some of you, you must begin now. Time has slipped away. However, it is not too late to make your house a “home.” Start with that daily warm welcome!