Dear Friends:

“My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours” (Luke 15:31).

Word of Mom’s illness summoned my three siblings and me home. We went with Dad to Mom’s hospital bedside to encourage her before surgery.

Miles and years had separated the four of us and altered our appearances. Love for our parents brought us together and drew us into that hospital room with smiles and hugs.

While Mom was in surgery, we went to lunch with Dad at the local cafe. We were easy in each other’s company, joking with the waitress while we ordered, exchanging stories as we ate sandwiches and omelets.

The waitress brought the check and handed it to Dad. Immediately, our hands went to our wallets — radiation technologist, interior designer, hospital administrator and attorney — each ready to prove good will and worth by paying the tab. “Let me get that, Dad.” “I’ll take care of this!” “You don’t have to pay, Father.” “Please give it to me.” We clamored our competitive offers to help.

Dad shook his head “no” as his gnarled, work-scarred fingers pulled bills from his worn wallet. Those fingers and that wallet had sacrificed to ensure our church school and college educations, preparing us for the success that we were now so eager to demonstrate. Dad did not have to do more for us.

But he wanted to do more. “Listen to me,” he said in the firm, kind voice that had guided and comforted each of us through a thousand troubles. “I’m your father. You’re in my territory now. I pay the bills for you.”

Our anxious expressions of capability and pride were hushed by the simple, eternal truth that a loving father always cares for his children no matter what they have become or where they have been. The memory of this tender care is what brought the Prodigal to his senses to say, “I will set out and go back to my Father….” (Luke 15:18).

The Apostle Paul pointed out the harsh alternative to our acceptance of the Father’s love: “Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed” (Romans 2:4).

In the territory of grace, our Father always provides the meal and picks up the check. Stop fighting him for it. His heart’s desire is to pay the bill. Let him do it for you and just say “Thanks.”

Under the mercy of Christ,

Kent

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Please note that the content and viewpoints of Mr. Hansen are his own and are not necessarily those of the C.S. Lewis Foundation. We have not edited his writing in any substantial way and have permission from him to post his content.

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Kent Hansen is a Christian attorney, author and speaker. He practices corporate law and is the managing attorney of the firm of Clayson, Mann, Yaeger & Hansen in Corona, California. Kent also serves as the general counsel of Loma Linda University and Medical Center in Loma Linda, California.

Finding God’s grace revealed in the ordinary experiences of life, spiritual renewal in Christ and prayer are Kent’s passions. He has written two books, Grace at 30,000 Feet and Other Unexpected Places published by Review & Herald in 2002 and Cleansing Fire, Healing Streams: Experiencing God’s Love Through Prayer, published by Pacific Press in spring 2007. Many of his stories and essays about God’s encompassing love have been published in magazines and journals. Kent is often found on the hiking trails of the southern California mountains, following major league baseball, playing the piano or writing his weekly email devotional, “A Word of Grace for Your Monday” that is read by men and women from Alaska to Zimbabwe.