this weekend my teenage daughter ran away. this is the second time that she has run away for more than a day. often though she will jump the fence and go and hang out with her friends in lower antioch, she always comes home though she will generally bring her friends over too. as my teenage daughter she's the one that
complains to me often, bothers me when it's most inconvenient, she
leaves without asking and begs for whatever she wants (complaining if
she doesn't get it).
'crimson' that's her name, went out early saturday morning and disappeared. i don't worry for the first couple of hours, after the first 24 hours i was really worried and all those thoughts of if i'd see her again started to roam the mind. i would drive the neighborhood and adjoining neighborhoods to see if i can find her. i wonder if i'll turn down a street and see her in the street hit by a car. i quickly & easily think the worst.
deep down i know she is a really smart dog (takes after her dad) & is going to be okay. i know that she will come back & we will be reunited again.
the first time she ran away and was found i thought of the prodigal son. i thought of this because of wonderful joy and welcome that i gave to her. i was overjoyed by the phone call from the nice people who tracked me down and found her. when i went to pick her up my face, i assume cause they told me, was overjoyed to meet up with my teenage daughter. however, today, it's wasn't the most 
joyous reuniting. i was excited to get the phone call from the wilco animal shelter, but not like i was the first time. i greeted the little girl when i saw her at the shelter, but it wasn't so much that people took notice. when we finally got home i made her a dinner but it wasn't anything special.
i am thankful that i know a God who is far from human. One who never tires of giving me overwhelming welcome as i endlessly go on my own little excursions away from home.
