The Father’s love and acceptance are absolutely free – Tim Keller
Judging by the stories my parents and older siblings shared, I was quite the handful as a child.
Now, I know corporal punishment—aka maar—is common in India, but not so much where I grew up. That said, I do remember a couple of moments when my dad’s patience wore thin and he gave me a swift kick in the butt—which was my sign to run to my room and not come out until I was ready to apologise.
Years later, in a conversation with another family, the topic of discipline came up, and I casually said, “My dad always kicks me!” Hearing this, my parents laughed and said, “That happened maybe twice!”. And just like that, it became a running joke in my family–and probably the worst thing I’ve ever said about my dad.
Not that bad, right?
Especially not compared to the youngest son in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) who essentially told his father, “I wish you were dead!” 😳
His actual words were “Father, give me my share of the estate” Luke 15:12, but in those days and that culture, asking for your inheritance before your father died was deeply disrespectful. It meant forcing the father to divide and sell a portion of his land—sacrificing not just wealth but also honour and standing in the community.
And what’s even more shocking than the request… is the father’s response: “Yes.”
The father agrees to his son’s proposal, whereas a Middle Eastern father in those days would’ve been expected to respond to such deference with, at the very least, “maar” but more likely, disownment.
There is no question that his son’s request deeply hurt this father. A human reaction to such rejection is to become angry, as a way to protect ourselves from further pain. Not this father, his love and affection for his son remained the same.
Just like our Heavenly Father.
No matter how far we run, no matter how much our actions wound Him, He never loves us any less.
Let’s take a moment to thank Him for such extravagant love.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unrelenting love for me. Thank you, that no matter how much my words or actions hurt You, Your love for me always remains the same. Forgive me for those times where I have rejected You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
