August 11, 2006

[Rev. Doc]

More Than Forgiveness

"I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them."
Mark 3:28

The novelist, A. J. Cronin, tells a story from his own experience as a doctor that catches the wonder of the gift of grace. Cronin was a friend of the Adams family who lived in the Connecticut suburbs. At the close of the Second World War, Mr. and Mrs. Adams decided to open their home to a little refugee boy from Italy with the outlandish name of Paul Piotrostanalsi.

The Adams had two daughters and a six-year old son named Sammy. Sammy and Paul became inseparable friends, but little Paul was a difficult child, and often disobeyed Mr. and Mrs. Adams. One day, little Paul went swimming in some contaminated water. He became very ill with a high fever, and the doctor suggested he sleep in an attic bedroom. But little Sammy missed his friend Paul so much that one night he crept up the attic stairs and into bed with Paul. Paul's contagious breath fell on Sammy's neck all night.

In the morning, Sammy, never a strong child, became deathly ill. Paul recovered his health, but Sammy died within three days. It was a terrible tragedy for the Adams family.

A year later Dr. Cronin decided to pay a call on the Adams family. But as he pulled into their driveway, he was amazed and then angry as he saw Paul, the refugee boy, working in the garden with Mr. Adams. He got out of his car and angrily approached Mr. Adams.

"What's this Paul Pio........whatever his name is, doing here after what he did to your family?"

Mr. Adams looked at the doctor and then said quietly, "Dr. Cronin, you won't have any more trouble with Paul's name. You see, he's Paul Adams now. We've adopted him."

God has more than forgiven us, He as adopted us. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that His forgiveness is greater than any sin in our life.

Prayer: Thank God for adopting you as His child, regardless of your past.

"Oh, it is sad for a poor Christian to stand at the door of the promise, in the dark night of affliction, afraid to draw the latch, whereas he should then come boldly for shelter as a child into his father's house."
~William Gurnall