A Long Way Off

We've all heard the story of the prodigal son more times then we can count,

Boy takes inheritance, boy tries to buy happiness, boy ends up unhappy broken and hits rock bottom,

Boy decides to return home and ask to be a servant,  Loving father welcomes him and throws a huge party.

Also some sibling jealousy thrown in there as well.

But there's more to the story then the Sunday school version we all memorized with the felt characters on the felt board.
Something that really struck me is this: 

. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." Luke 15 :20 

When he was still a LONG WAY OFF, God doesn't sit around and wait 'till we knock on the door with our head in our hands and as him to take as back, NO. HE RUNS out to us while we are a LONG WAYS OFF , while we are still lost and broken. BEFORE WE EVEN GET A CHANCE TO APOLOGIZE, he wraps his arms around us and embraces us . He RUNS OUT, he does not care that WE are the ones that walked away, He doesn't care that we SPIT in his face that we said he was DEAD to us with our actions and our words. He doesn't even wait for us to explain, He comes after us, when we are still FAR OFF, while we still STINK of pigs pen, he hugs us and holds us tight and walks with us back home.
Now that's Love.