The day was hot and sticky and there was excitement in the air. I was four years old and two great things would be happening on this day: my Nanny would be coming by bus to visit us and the town of Bridgewater was having a parade.
My Mom got me washed up, hair brushed and in a cotton sun dress and told me I could wait outside for the bus to come, while she got my sister Susan ready. She told me not to cross the street but to wait on the sidewalk and soon Nanny would be there and we would all go to watch the parade. I can remember being careful not to slam the screen door on my way out and I can remember how grown up I felt being allowed to go outside by myself and wait for the bus and the parade.
Five minutes can seem like a terribly long time for a four year old so I really don't know how much time had passed when all of a sudden I heard the sounds of the parade starting. Oh my, what excitement I felt. Grown up people were beginning to crowd around me on the side walk and before very long I was pushed to the back of the crowd. I was so disappointed. But then I heard the sound that probably every little girl would recognize. The sound of horses hooves striking the pavement! I had to get to see the horses!
I squeezed to the front of the line and actually stepped off the curb, something I was never supposed to do. But I rationalized in my little four year old brain that I could still see the sidewalk so I was okay where I was. And then I saw him! A beautiful, the 'most' beautiful dapple gray horse I had ever seen. He was enormous, especially to a little girl. I was so close to him that I could reach out and touch his belly, but I didn't dare, but as he moved away I walked along side of him. I was completely mesmerized by this beautiful creature.
Gone were the thoughts of my Nanny coming, gone were the warnings of my mother. Gone was all reason. I was captivated by needing to be near this horse. I don't think I had followed him very long when I came to my senses and realized that I didn't recognize anyone around me or where I was. I was lost! That terrible thing that Mom and Dad had warned me about that could happen to me if I didn't obey and stay where I was suppose to be. I didn't know what to do. So I found a low stone wall in front of someone's house and I did what most four year old little girls would do: I sat down and cried.
I don't know how long I was gone, it felt like an eternity. But after awhile I looked up to see my Dad coming towards me. He scooped me up and hugged me so hard. He never scolded me. He just kept telling me that he was glad he found me. I was so glad to have been found! When I got home Mom gave me the spanking I deserved and then gave me the hugs that showed me how much she had been worried over me.
I never ran away or was tempted to run away ever again. I had learned my lesson. I knew I was safe when I stayed near my parents and when I listened to them. Isn't this just like we are sometimes? We know the right way to do things, we know God's laws and commandments, but we see something that tempts us. We know we shouldn't follow the temptation, but we think that if we just stray a little, then we can quickly get back to safety and no harm will be done. But once we start following after the things we know we shouldn't, pretty soon we find ourselves to be lost and we don't know how to get home to the Father.
Hosea 2:14 tells us that God will draw us back to Himself when we stray from Him. He loves us. Just like my earthly father loved me enough to come looking for me, so will our Heavenly Father come for us. He will speak to our hearts and tell us that He wants us to turn back to Him. If you have walked away from Him, won't you return today? He is waiting for you to come home.
GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"That is why I'm going to win her back. I will lead her into the desert. I will speak tenderly to her.
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