Come, let us return

Little Tessa's toddler legs carried her far from her mother on a Sunday hike in the woods.  As I walked along, far behind the group - caught up in taking close-ups of bees in the afternoon sun and milkweed glitter - this chance to observe was sweet.  What a picture of us as we stumble and fall far from our Father - yet He bends His knee and waits there in the path for us, beckoning us and urging us to come closer again.

Wandering, stumble and fall, repent and return.  The story of all the human race.  How sweet the return - when we find our burdens once again shouldered by a Father who has strength to bear them!

Come, let us return to the Lord,

for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.

Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth.

Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God,

for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.

Take with you words

and return to the Lord;

say to him,

“Take away all iniquity;

accept what is good,

and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’

to the work of our hands.

In you the orphan finds mercy.”

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
whoever is discerning, let him know them;
for the ways of the Lord are right,
and the upright walk in them.

~ excerpted from Hosea 6 & 14 ~