The longest 7 minutes of my life

So, Clint and I have a Golden Retriever that we love more than anything in this world (OK that may a stretch... But Reynolds is up there). So, here we are on Goldsboro celebrating Christmas with all the Rouse family! Reynolds in a rare dog that he needs no leash, fence, electric fence, he just stays right in the back yard in the patio. He loves to be near people, so he normally just curls up on the door mat keeping watch on his family. So, the whole family was down in the basement watching the Wolfpack play basketball while Reynolds kept the patio down. It was half time so I decided to make my Mary way upstairs to check on our 4 legged son. Expecting for Reynolds to be in his normal spot, spooning the straw mat. But, he was not there! I stayed calm an just began calling his name.. No answer! I grabbed his treat jar and shook it (this is usually the best "Come" command) but still no R-Man! I freaked! I ran down stairs and told the whole family "Reynolds is gone! Call the cops! Call animal control! Call all animal shelters!" I freaked! Then our sweet family got in 3 cars, hannah and Charlie took Ridgewood, Clint took the back woods and I stood in the back yard crying and shaking the treat jar. Yes, I freaked! Every possible thought went through my head... He has been hit, he has been abducted, a deer has attacked him... All I could do was shake this little plastic jar. At this point I am by myself sitting in the back yard shaking this treat jar whispering "Reynolds!" 

.......

Then all of a sudden the bushes parted and here comes the happiest little 4-legged boy smiling with his tongue hanging out like he was saying "mom, I love hide and go seek!" Oh I was so happy he was home, but I also wanted to  spank this little boy for leaving his beloved door mat! 

So we called in the search committee and celebrated the coming home of our lost pooch!

 

So, this is what I learned through this lost and found saga of Reynolds! We probably have all heard the bible story of the prodigal son! Luke 15 says it like this:

¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ 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.

²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “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. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

So often I feel like I have related to the younger son who leaves home and is shown grace by his father! Daily I stray from Jesus, squandering all the gifts he has given me, but I am always welcomed with those words saying....But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

But with Reynolds leaving, I totally related to our father and it gave me a new perspective... Why would I ever want to leave the care and the comfort of our Maker and Masters grip. I don't know about you guys, but I am going to stand firm on my "door mat" on my Masters "patio" being told "Welcome home Mary, lets celebrate because you were once lost, but you are now found!"

Welcome home Reynods!