'His only desire is to bless'

I love it when Holy Spirit does these sorts of things to me.

As I continue to move through this series on "The Parable of the Two Lost Sons and Their Loving Father" (my new title for this parable), I've often thought of purchasing Henri Nouwen's "The Return of the Prodigal Son." This morning, the text in the devotional I've been using since the beginning of the year ("When You Pray: Daily Practices for Prayerful Living," Rueben P. Job) was taken from Nouwen's reflections on Rembrandt's "The Return of the Prodigal Son" (above).

 "Here is the God I want to believe in: a Father who, from the beginning of creation, has stretched out his arms in merciful blessing, never forcing himself on anyone, but always waiting; never letting his arms drop down in despair, but always hoping that his children will return so that he can speak words of love to them and let his stired arms rest on their shoulders. His only desire is to bless. " ("The Return of the Prodigal Son," Henri J.M. Nouwen; pp 93-94, as quoted by Job)

We should all come home to such a Father.