God is able

A man is in the august years of his life.  He spent most of those years hitting the bottle, terrorizing his family, and hating the Church.  At the same time, he worked hard  trying to make a living but he drank the money as fast as he made it.

Even though this man showed no desire to change, his family believed that some day his heart would soften and that he would be happy.  Years have gone by and now the family can see the evidence of what they had hoped for all these decades. 

The man has changed.  Slowly, the compulsive habits have loosened their grip on him. His eyes light up when the children and grandchildren come over. These days he even turns on his wife’s favorite radio Bible program and listens with her. 

One day, after many gentle attempts over the years by his son-in-law asking him if he would like to say the blessing over a family meal, the man did!  It was not the typical salutation, petition, and closing prayer most of us utter.  It was more like a little speech spoken by the patriarch of the family.   It did not start out with “Dear Lord” nor did it end with “In Jesus Name” but it was an honest, heartfelt gladness for the gathering of family and friends.  It was a bold and brave attempt done by a man who for so long had declared himself an enemy of Jesus and the family of God. 

It was the kind of prayer where the great cloud of witnesses hush their praises and bend their ears to hear the words of someone who is finally coming home to the arms of God.  The angels in heaven rejoiced when they heard the man’s thanksgiving. And God himself was present at the family table. 

St. Peter wrote that God does not wish anyone to be lost but that all will come to repentance. God will do whatever it takes to redeem us all. 

Praise God that He is patient with all of us and is able to soften the hardest of hearts.