- How do you feel when someone takes something from you that is very important or special? (Answers may vary: angry, want to get back at a person, want revenge, etc.)
One couple from China knows exactly what it’s like to have the most important thing in their lives taken from them: their son. Twenty-four years ago, their two-year-old son was kidnapped from the front of their home while he was playing. While his parents searched diligently for him, with each passing year, they worried their son was gone for good. One day last year, though, they got the best surprise of their lives. Let’s find out what happened next.
Play the following video [1:38]:
Parents reunite with son kidnapped 24 years ago
- How do you think most parents would react if their lost child returned home? (Excited, overwhelmed with joy at seeing a lost child again, grateful, etc.)
It didn’t matter how long their son had been gone; the parents’ love for him remained strong and unwavering. Even though they likely questioned whether their son was alive or whether they’d ever see him again, they held onto hope that he would return.
- How do you think God feels when His children return to Him? (Delighted, overjoyed, welcoming, etc.)
This boy’s parents welcomed their lost son home with open arms. Just like the boys’ parents, God never stopped searching for us or wanting us to return to Him. Today we are going to talk about the way God welcomes us, His children, with open arms—no matter how long we’ve been away or how far we’ve gone.
