I lost my wedding ring when I was restoring a 1966 Mustang. I searched thoroughly, but it was nowhere to be found. We ordered another one, but I never had the same attachment to the new ring, watching for my first ring. Last year, as I started a construction project, carefully navigating through wood shavings, splinters and slivers of wood strewn across the garage floor. I spotted a glimmer of gold, shining through the sawdust. On investigating, I found my 10-year-lost wedding ring. I immediately put it on, wearing it to this day.
Family and friends have been “lost” to the church, some hurt by fellow Christians, some, like the prodigal son, forsook their heritage, went their own way. Some returned, realizing they were spiritually starving. Taking their first steps back, they saw God waiting there with compassion, restoring them to family, giving them the best, clothing them with forgiveness and giving them the ring of eternal love. God fed their hungry souls.
“God, who is rich in mercy…made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4, 5) Let’s lovingly greet “prodigals” with open arms.
Thanks, God, for watching for our glimmer of gold buried in the sawdust of sin and time, never giving up on us. Amen. —