Real Hope: Redemption StoryMuestra

The Redemption Story

I had a small insight into God’s heart for redemption described in Luke 15 on a hot summer’s day in a department store.

I was doing a quick shop trying to find a dress on sale for a wedding I was invited to. I had my beautiful young daughter with me who was just at that age when creating a cubby house under a table with a sheet thrown over it caused delight. Without me realising, she had discovered a rack with a wide base that had a number of long dresses hanging. This rack had taken my daughter’s fancy as a great cubby option and she had climbed in out of view. By the time I’d taken a dress from the opposite rack and turned to take my girl’s hand she was gone. My daughter was lost to me and I was devastated. I called her name and started to search for her. Thankfully, she popped her head out from between the dresses with a smile. After hugs, which held enough joy that the whole of heaven must have been rejoicing with me, I explained to my sweet girl how much I loved her and how her disappearing had made me so sad. There was a genuine, ‘Sorry Mumma’, and a genuine, ‘I forgive you’ from me. We went on hand in hand into the rest of our day.

Just like the stories in the Bible and my parenting experience, God loves us and will search for us when we are relationally lost from Him. When we return to God’s love, all heaven rejoices. We are found, forgiven and loved. That is redemption.

Written by KATH HENRY