There’s a non-stop world of news filling the networks, newspapers, and social media platforms. From global conflicts to a 24-hour news cycle talking about the upcoming election, now we witness the staggering devastation at the hands of Hurricane Helene. I thought I had witnessed the worst during Hurricane Katrina (2005), but the loss of life and total obliteration to so many from Helene is hard to fathom.
Entire towns have been swept away or buried in muck and mire. North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been hit especially hard by this Cat 4 hurricane. It is unusual for a storm of this magnitude to have such an impact so far inland, but Helene seems to be the perfect storm. The confirmed death toll has climbed to over 220 at this writing, making Helene one of the deadliest and costliest storms to hit the US in the modern era. Hundreds of people are still reported missing. Thousands are in shelters all along the East Coast, where entire communities were destroyed by fast-moving water. Restoring power will prove especially challenging since many electrical substations were flooded. The devastation could be disastrous for industries and long-term health consequences for survivors will certainly last for decades.
It is among all this “gunk” that a story caught my attention. Despite all the devastation, one man was determined to walk his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day. David Jones made that happen at his daughter, Elizabeth’s, wedding in Johnson City, Tennessee, last weekend. What’s so remarkable is that David had to walk through the devastation created by Hurricane Helene to get there.
On a normal day, it would be a simple two-hour drive from South Carolina to the wedding. But the storm damage turned it into a seven-hour drive, plus five and a half hours on foot to cover the remaining thirty miles to the wedding. David climbed six- and seven-foot-tall piles of debris and slogged through the mud. Carrying a reflective stake to avoid being hit, he made it just in time. At the reception David presented the reflector to the couple as a gift. His reason for that gift — “Just for them to remember, to be a protector and a good reflection of each other and a reflection of God.”
I could have chosen a number of other topics to talk about this week, but this particular story portraying the love and sacrifice this father had for his soon-to-be-wedded daughter, hit me like one of those big pine trees. This perfectly portrays Our Father’s love for us.
Jesus taught us about the kingdom of God with many parables. In the parable of the prodigal son, we learn some important things about God’s love.
A man had two sons, and the younger one demanded his share of his father’s inheritance. Then, soon after the father had given him his inheritance, the younger son spent all of it foolishly. It was bad enough that he had asked for his inheritance while his father was still alive, but squandering it was also very foolish.
Still, the father’s love toward his son continued. And when the son returned, the father welcomed him back with unconditional love. The father never stopped looking at the horizon for his son to return.
This parable portrays the depths of the amazing love in God’s heart. It shows God’s willingness to accept and forgive any of us who come back to him from our wandering. I can relate to the prodigal.
Now, when the father called for a celebration, the older son complained. He could not understand the father’s love and forgiveness. The father explained to the older son that it was as if his brother had been dead and was alive again, so he threw a celebration for all to enjoy. “This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. (Luke 15:24)
I can’t think of a better story to portray Our Father’s love for us.
Lord, thank you for your grace, love and forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Debby Efurd is co-founder of Cary John Efurd Ministries of Pittsburg, TX. She has been a contributor to Bound for Life and written numerous articles published in LifeNews, Christian Post and the Baptist Standard, and is the author of Go Tell It! Debby can be contacted at caryjohnefurdministries@gmail.com.
Tagged: Bible stories, fathers, forgiveness, God’s love, Texas weather
