One small step. That is all God requires of us; one small step. I was thinking, today, about the prodigal son. (Luke 15:11-22) In this story, a man had 2 sons. One son was anxious for his life to start, and demanded his inheritance and headed out on his own. He squandered this inheritance away, then, when he had sunk pretty low, he decided to go back home, to his father and beg for his forgiveness.

The part of the story comes in the second half of verse 20. "While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."

Being a mother, I know that feeling of seeing my child returning home after a long absence. I know that feeling which is half longing and half disbelief. Can it be true? Are they really here? I imagine that this father felt the same way. At first, he was just seeing a silhouette of a man. The shape of him looked somehow familiar.

As the man drew nearer, the father recognized him as the son he thought was lost to him. What joy filled his heart. Then, the shape pauses for a brief moment, unsure of what kind of reception he was going to receive. The father, noticing the hesitation has a moment of panic. "What if he changes his mind and turns around?"

So, he does what any parent who loves unconditionally would do. He runs and snatches his son up in his arms and plants kisses full of love and acceptance on him.

When I am with my children, now all grown up, I long for them to be small again, so I can take them in my arms without restraint and pour my love for them out freely. When they were that young, alas, like so many other mothers, I did not love them as unconditionally, as constantly, as unrestrainedly as I should have. Life was just too busy, too painful, to confusing at that time. Not an excuse, just the only reason I have. It is a regret that I will have to carry with me, all the rest of my life.

Being a different person now, and as good a mother as I can, does little to appease my regret. Still, I know that even in that time, I did the best that I was capable of. Not the best that I could have done, just the best I was capable of.

Thankfully, my children know more about unconditional love that I did at that time. They have forgiven my inadequacies and continue to love me unconditionally. The gratefulness I feel due to their grace is the only thing that appeases my regret.

My relationship with my Father God has been the same. I have not loved Him as fully, as constantly, as unconditionally, as unrestrainedly as I should have. Just like my children, God only requires me to make one small step towards Him. Then, like the father of that prodigal son, He will run to me, take me in His arms and shower His love upon me. All I need to do is to take that one tentative step.

When you have so much in your life that you feel guilty about, that one step can take a lot of courage. There are times when that one small step is backing away, sometimes, I pause and even turn from His welcoming love. Still, He waits, unmoving, waiting for me to take that step towards Him, again.

What glory! What joy! When He is so loving, so gracious to forgive me my turning from Him, how can I possibly not learn to be forgiving? Even to the point where I can forgive myself. So, today, I am not only taking that one small step, even though I know that it is all that is required--I am running straight into His arms and soaking in His welcoming love.

How about you? Are you brave enough to take that one small step? He is waiting for you with arms wide open and a heart full of love.