Raising my two kids was amazing. It was demanding but rewarding. It didn’t matter if they were fighting at the breakfast table or being awesome at a school event; I was always there with them. And I loved every minute of it.

(If your childhood experience was traumatic like mine, hang in there and stay with me. I’m going somewhere with this. Fight the trigger.)

Then, they went off to college. I missed them, even the fighting. I was happy to see them at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Occasionally, they took a break from their busy lives to check in with a phone call, but it wasn’t the same.

They were doing their thing. But I wished they were back with me at home because I love them so much.

God feels the same way. He misses you.

The account of God and Adam in the Garden of Eden is astonishing. God and Adam had a collaborative father-son relationship. Some days, God made animals and brought them to Adam to give them names. Other days, they would walk and talk.

Then Adam went off to college.

He left his garden home and entered the big, troubled world to start his new life. I’m not sure how many times Adam called his Father. Because now he was busy with a wife, kids, a new job, family drama, and a neighborhood he regretted moving into.

God Missed Him.

There are two versions of what happened next. If you are a Christian, you believe that God’s immense love spurred Him to do something about it. He sent Jesus to pay the ultimate price so He could be reunited with the children He loves. And live life with them full-time again.

If you are not a Christian and have stayed with this article up to this point, you might be thinking all this is moot because it is a contrived fairy tale.

But what if?

What if there is a God who made you? And He thinks you are so fascinating He wants to live with you. He misses you. He likes looking at you. He wants to collaborate with you on projects. And even misses your fighting at the breakfast table.

Jesus Nailed It with One Story.

The story Jesus told is called “The Prodigal Son.” A father loves his son. His son gets stupid, takes a wad of cash, and goes off to college. Unfortunately, the campus he chose was Partyville University. The son quickly flunks out and heads home.

What few talk about is one aspect of this story: the father looks out for his son’s return EVERY DAY. Is today the day I get to see my son? I miss him.

When the son shows up, the father is overjoyed. And runs to meet with him. There is no judgment or rebuke — just restoration and love. He never says, “What the hell happened with all that money I gave you?” Nope. He says, “For my son was dead and now he is alive again. He was lost and now he is found. Let us eat and have a good time.” Luke 15:24

Is it possible that God has been looking out every day for you? Is He hoping today is the day He gets a text or call from the child He loves?

Bring Your Dirty Laundry Home.

When my kids came home, they always brought all their dirty laundry. While I was getting current with them and kissing all over their young adult faces, their laundry was getting cleaned, pressed, folded, and restored to like-new condition.

God doesn’t care how bad your laundry has become. Whether it’s skid marks or vomit from a Frat bender, He still wants it cleansed. Don’t ask. Don’t tell. He knows. And loves you anyway.

Let’s finish with a crazy Jewish fact.

This was written in September 2024. It is the Hebrew month of Elul, called the month “when the King is in the field.” Eleven months out of the year, getting an audience with the King would have been next to impossible. But once a year, the King left the castle and set up a tent with the ordinary people in a field. They had access to him. They discussed things, lodged complaints, vented their frustrations, loved on him, and let royalty know how their life was going. How the king must have loved a respite from the political bull of the palace to spend quality time with the people he loved.

It’s been 20 years since Joan Osborne challenged us with the thought that God would sit next to us on a bus. But He wants to. He misses you.

If you are a stranger at a strange university, pack up all your dirty laundry and head home for a visit. I promise He will run to meet you. It doesn’t mean you have to drop out of college. It simply means you will allow Him to love on you for a while. You could use a divine kiss on the face today. And He delights in giving them. Remember, your Father will “wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good — tears gone, crying gone, pain gone — all the first order of things gone.” Rev. 21:4

If you are exactly where you are supposed to be, this would be a good day to go upstairs and tell your Father that you love Him. He knows. But it’s always good to hear. And He loves you, too.

He’s looking out and waiting for you. Check in. You’ll be glad you did.