Just before we crossed Fifth Avenue in New York City, Jack was approached by a well dressed man who asked him where he had bought his hat. Jack was wearing a felt fedora (not a Stetson) which seemed quite ordinary to me and we were both surprised that in New York someone would ask about his hat. The man’s face fell when Jack said, “I bought it in Houston, Texas.” I still remember it because I believed that New York was probably one of the biggest market places in the world, and would surely have shops that would sell an exhaustive variety of men’s hats. In any case, the unknown man’s request left us feeling less awed by the city, and delighted that Jack was wearing something coveted by a New Yorker.

What does it take to make us feel accepted and belonging? The Prodigal Son had a father who rushed to meet him: He ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him.” (Luke 15;20) He also clothed the boy in his best robe and put sandals on his feet and a ring on his finger. The son knew that he was not only accepted, but was admitted to the inmost center of the heart of the family.

The psalmist wrote, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (psalm 23:6) His joy in belonging to God spills into the most popular Psalm in the world. It resonates in the minds of all ages, even children. The wonderful pictures and the promise of the twenty-third psalm give us a glimpse of a world far from the competitive hustle that surrounds us. It’s the world of the returning prodigal, the world created for us by our creator God, the world of promise for a future of lasting joy: “ I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians: I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.” (Leviticus 26:12) That day in New York , Jack and I walked with heads held high. It was a good feeling in a big city.

God promises much, much more. ST. Paul wrote,”I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”(Romans 8:18)

To receive these promises, even to claim them, we have only to open His book and read. The extravagance of our Father’s love is displayed there in many facets. In some, we simply marvel, and other facets give witness in our lives. It’s all joy to hold your head high in the kingdom of God.

Love in Him,

Prue