by Linda Veath

bud-linda-5

Linda Veath and her dad

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. ~ Luke 15:20b

I blew it. Big time. Instead of preventing the big steers from escaping, I actually trapped my dad in their path. I screamed as they slammed him into the wall of the barn, right where a large nail was protruding. With Daddy’s holler of pain came lots of blood streaming down his face.

Daddy took off for the house to get help. I made it as far as a patch of grass outside the barn and collapsed, sobbing because I had hurt my daddy. I cried and cried and cried. In a short while I heard Daddy calling, “Linda, honey, it’s o.k. Don’t cry.”

I looked up and saw my dad crossing the public county road that splits the barn from the house in nothing but his briefs and house shoes. And a large white bandage above his eye.

When Daddy reached me, he lifted me up, wiped away my tears, gave me a big hug, and told me everything would be o.k. Then, with his arm around me, he led his thirty-two year old daughter back to the house.

If someone had driven by at just that moment, no doubt they would have thought it scandalous for my dad to be out in public in next to nothing. But rescuing me from my tears and guilt were more important to my dad. Just as in Luke 15:20b, welcoming home the prodigal son was important to his father. And, just as gathering His hurting children into His arms and wiping away tears and sin is important to our Heavenly Father.

What perfect pictures of grace!

The Christian group Unspoken has a beautiful song out right now: Call It Grace. In the chorus, grace is described as “nothing less than scandalous.” I love that description.

I experienced that kind of grace in my daddy’s love. And I continue to experience that kind of grace every day of my life in the love of our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who willingly gave His life for me—for you.

May God’s scandalous grace fill our hearts to overflowing with His love.

[ctt title=”May God’s scandalous grace fill our hearts to overflowing with His love.” tweet=”May God’s scandalous grace fill our hearts to overflowing with His love. @unspokenmusic @divinedetour http://ctt.ec/CMIxX+” coverup=”CMIxX”]