Recently I read a Spanish story of a father and son. Paco, the son ran away, and the father did everything to find him but to no avail. There was little to no chance that he would be able to find Paco by wandering the streets of Madrid, so instead, he put an advertisement in the local newspaper.

 

The advertisement read: “Paco, meet me at the Hotel Montana at noon on Tuesday. All is forgiven! Love, Papa.”

 

Paco is a common name in Spain when the father went to the Hotel Montana the next day at noon there were 800 young men named Paco waiting for their fathers…and waiting for the forgiveness they never thought was possible!

 

This story may remind you of the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 5 where Jesus is helping us understand Father God’s heart for His lost ones. However, this story turns my attention to the many Pacos who are waiting for forgiveness from their earthly parents.

 

Years have gone by and many parents with aching hearts see their children drowning in the world and moving away from God. The family is saved but there is one child who knows Jesus but refuses to walk in the light. Children have grown up and the hold over them has gone. They are adults and living life on their own terms and as parents, we cannot say a word.

 

Helplessness, hopelessness, guilt, heartache, regret, etc. wears us down and at times hinder our personal relationship with God.

 

It is time we retrospect ourselves in the period of waiting and take steps to restore, steps of faith, steps to once again nurture. If you are your child’s parent it is because you were called by God to be there for your child even when they have grown big.

That noon there were 800 young men hoping to see their father but were disappointed. You may be in the same house but as you are waiting for years to see a change in your child’s life, maybe your child is waiting for you to take that step of reconciliation.

 

God will reveal to you the area in which you have wronged your child. God will remind you of the negative words you spoke over your child. It is not to condemn you but alter what was wronged. Ask God for forgiveness, ask God to give you the courage to seek forgiveness from your child. Remember you do not cease to be their parents when you confess your mistakes to your children. Love moves in courage, without expectation of a return.

 

Your step of remorse has to be with a heart of love to restore the relationship and the Holy Spirit will be the binding factor as you take this step of faith. Your step of faith catapults God to reverse things as it was called to be for those who love Him and do according to His word. (Romans 8:28)

 

Parents, the power to reverse what wrong has been done is within you. Repent!

Recollect the father in Luke 15, he ran to his son who was in tatters and stinking and he hugged him. He didn’t put on new clothes and then accept him. The lost when they return bring along with them things that may be detestable in Christian living but we got to remember to accept what God accepts, and love the way God loves and this unconditional love will slowly take off all that is not from God and bring forth meaning in their life.

Without compromising with the ways that they come in we got to receive our children in love. Conditions and Christian living standards deter them to come wholeheartedly. As we reveal God’s love and let them know that you are with them in this journey to change they will in time change their ways and begin to love the Lord.

 

Are you holding onto a promise for your child? Don’t let go of it!

 

God can change things in a day. Most of the time in sports a game is won in the last few seconds. Every second of our life is crucial for the Lord to work a wonder. He works in ways we cannot imagine. As earthly parents, we recreate a picture of other young person’s testimony and at times even try and recreate moments. God doesn’t work like that. To Him each one of us is special and He knows our uniqueness. Let us just focus on His promises, and endure the waiting and healing process with patience, kindness, and love. As we do so the Lord will restore back all that was lost and return it multifold, more than what we can imagine.