The Greatest of All Blessings

Ever since I started college, I've been in enrolled in the church's institute of religion just off the OU campus. I've been so blessed to be able to attend in between classes every semester I've been at OU. The things that I've learned have definitely made a difference in my life, and have increased my desire to learn new things within the gospel. I love it! I wanted to share something that I recently learned there.

Most of us know the story of the Prodigal Son. He was a child of a loving father who lost his way at some point in his life. He left home and engaged in riotous living as he wasted all of his substance. Eventually there was a famine, and in order to survive, he made a living feeding swine. Eventually he "came to himself" and decided to return to his Father to be a servant. The Prodigal Son returned, and his Father welcomed him home with open arms, bringing everyone together in a celebration of His son's return. In verse 20 of Luke 15, there's an important point I'd like to emphasize. The verse describes the return of the Prodigal Son, saying "And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." I love playing this scene out in my mind. What I never realized before was that the loving Father of this wayward son was watching for His son, waiting for him a "great way off". He was watching for His son's return to Him. I know that in times when we fall away and don't feel worthy to call upon our Father, He is watching and waiting for us to return so He can embrace us again.

Sometimes we forget about how great the Lord's love is for us, and how much He wants to bless our lives. Whether it's forgiving us of past mistakes or bestowing a blessing that we're in great need of, He is eager to do it. Balaam learned that "it pleased the Lord to bless Israel" (Numbers 24:1), and that is confirmed in Doctrine and Covenants 41:1 when the Lord says, "I delight to bless with the greatest of all blessings ye that hear me." It's not just an obligation to the Lord, it's His desire to bless us.

Knowing this gives me confidence to go to the Lord in any circumstance in which I find myself in need of guidance or strength. God is infinite, endless, and everlasting. So is His love for you and me.