It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God

My thoughts today go toward the parable of the prodigal.

As I thought of this it occurred to me that:

#1 the father didn’t go out and try to compel his son to come back

#2 the brother didn’t go out and try to compel his brother to come back.

They didn’t “enable” the prodigal to live in that detrimental lifestyle.

It was only after enough horrific experiences and enough soul searching that the prodigal decided and made up his mind that it was better at his father’s house.

So why do parents enable their addicted children?

There are as many answers to that as there are addictions and the stories behind them.

The parent who won’t admit their child is addicted.

The one who is blinded to it.

The one who thinks they can help bring them out of the addiction.

The one who has already lost one child and cannot withstand the idea of losing another one so they do whatever they have to do to ensure this child stays alive, each and every day.

Go easy on the parents.

We have no idea the thoughts that plague them.

The memories that comfort them.

The hope that keeps them.

I had to learn, again, that I have no control over addict or the parent or the choices either of them make in their life. For a split second it was a terrifying thought, that God is in complete control, that I never had any and I remembered the Scripture:

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” Hebrews 10:31

I understand that now to mean, when you understand how all powerful He is, it will make your heart stop for a second, your eyes will open a bit wider, you will smile a little bit at how little we are and how big He is and then the all encompassing comfort comes from knowing the Lord is truly in control.

He always was.