tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395444088817351529.post3745620845912879985..comments2023-03-30T06:42:07.287-04:00Comments on The Secret Life of a Minister's Wife . . .: The Prodigal(s).YMinisterswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01199938373104456135noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395444088817351529.post-74690842799346185402009-03-27T13:44:00.000-04:002009-03-27T13:44:00.000-04:00My dear friend Casey...that was beautifully writte...My dear friend Casey...that was beautifully written. You are absolutely right. <BR/><BR/>My biggest faults in life have always been based on judgmental snobbery. My past haunts me because of the people I've hurt due to the things I've said in order to verbally crucify them. I am not proud of that.<BR/><BR/>I completely agree with your question about Paul. The notion that Paul could be a murderer and still be loved and utilized my God reveals forgiveness that boggles the mind of someone who is as well-trained in judgment as I am. <BR/><BR/>I am so thankful that God forgives us regardless of whether our sins are public or hidden behind a mask of skin-deep Christianity. <BR/><BR/>Thank you for your comment. I hope to hear from you again.YMinisterswifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01199938373104456135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395444088817351529.post-73887456257438909412009-03-27T13:25:00.000-04:002009-03-27T13:25:00.000-04:00I have been both sons….as you know, Caryn. I was f...I have been both sons….as you know, Caryn. I was for far too long the wandering son, hurting myself and those close to me. Rarely do “our sins only affect us.” They usually inflict the most pain on those close to us. But what really caught my attention in this post was the “questioning of the logic of rejoicing over a rebellious loser who only comes home because he has reached the pit in life and has no where else to go.” I find that these sons are often the best exhibit of God’s grace of mercy. Offering gentle comfort because they know the pain. Offering unconditional love because they know the feeling of being unloved. Offering their guidance to the lost because they know the place. Offering an ear without judgement because they know how incredibly hard it is to admit weakness and seek forgiveness, especially if it’s not just for eating brownies. Rejoicing the loudest for God who rescued them. Shining the light and sharing the Word because they know it led them out of the darkness. Would Paul have been so strong without being the lost son? Would he have been able to spread the story of Jesus to those who most needed it without relating to their struggles? Isn’t it the lost sons who know the places to get lost? Who know the people who are lost? Who do their teaching not to those who are already seeking God’s forgiveness, but those who don’t even know it exists? Praise God for the lost sons!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395444088817351529.post-8542067832048691132009-03-27T06:52:00.000-04:002009-03-27T06:52:00.000-04:00Thanks everyone! In my life my role in the prodiga...Thanks everyone! <BR/><BR/>In my life my role in the prodigal son story has shifted several times, but the majority of my time was/is spent with the older brother. I think it is safe to say he and I go way back. I've been trying to remind myself lately that...we all must make sure that even if we look together on the outside our hearts may not be in alignment with Christ. That to me is the very essence of the older prodigal.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for reading!YMinisterswifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01199938373104456135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395444088817351529.post-67368746356258962722009-03-15T13:56:00.000-04:002009-03-15T13:56:00.000-04:00There is a secret life of a minister's wife? I wi...There is a secret life of a minister's wife? I wished I'd known. Minister's wife need a 'union' or a 'group' that can represent and protect them. <BR/>Great website.<BR/>I read a book as a young minister's wife (35 years ago) that made me realize I was human and to serve God the best way I could and the way others felt I should.<BR/>Great thoughts! The parable should be called, The Elder Brother.Grandma Lolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17992813186769018136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395444088817351529.post-88182193351120291342009-03-05T00:32:00.000-05:002009-03-05T00:32:00.000-05:00Brilliant! Caryn you have such a gift in your wri...Brilliant! Caryn you have such a gift in your writing- it seems to flow so naturally and it speaks volumes! I feel like God had you speaking directly to me and I just hope I can have the courage to speak up about my struggles and to lose the pride that comes wrapped in that ugly package. Thank you for coming to Livonia and thank you for being such a humble, transparent Christian!<BR/><BR/>Sherry RoszkowskiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2395444088817351529.post-64578525280719910622009-03-03T17:56:00.000-05:002009-03-03T17:56:00.000-05:00Hey, I love the story of the prodigal son. We wer...Hey, I love the story of the prodigal son. We were just talking about it in relation to our topic "unconditional love" last Sunday morning for bible class. I mentioned that I used to relate to the older son more than the dad or the younger son (being the oldest, law-abiding kid) until I became a Christian. Until I realized that I was the lost son after all. Of course, becoming a parent has made me able to identify more with God the "father' in the story. I always enjoy talking about that story--and I enjoyed your down-to-earth commentary which puts it in a more personal perspective!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com