Thanks, Cory

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him (1 John 3:1, NIV).

I’m a 90s baby. I grew up with TV shows like Full House, Saved by the Bell, and Boy Meets World. These shows are now considered vintage, which makes me laugh. As it has become harder to find wholesome content today, I often land on watching reruns. It’s nostalgic, and it draws me back to a bit of a simpler time as far as television shows are concerned.

I exchanged a few messages with a friend about our favorite characters, episodes, and moments. Eric, and his brother, Cory, found themselves in a small, unknown town a short distance from their home in Philadelphia. On the heels of a rough time in his young adult life, Eric was considering what it would look like to stay in this new place. Under the facade of feeling accepted and loved by people he had just met, it really boiled down to him not feeling good enough to go home.

Enter Alan Matthews, Eric and Cory’s Dad. Alan and Eric slid into a booth together to talk about the real reason Eric was running away. The profound exchange went like this:

Eric: I don’t like myself now, Dad. What am I even going home to?

Alan: To the support of your family, and friends, who will help you find what you really want.

Eric: I’m afraid to go home.

Alan: Eric, you never have to be afraid to go home.

Eric: How are you so sure?

Cory: Because he’s Dad. 

Alan: Yeah, that’s mostly what I am. Let’s go.

Wow! What a beautiful exchange with the two boys and their father. Thanks, Cory, for the reminder of the powerful love of our Heavenly Father. God is so many things–counselor, comforter, protector, and so much more. But, as Alan says to Eric, He is our Father. And we can trust Him. 

There are so many instances we could point to in the Bible, but I love the verse from 1 John 3:1 that says: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”

Sometimes the greatest reminder in a difficult season of our lives is that WE are called children of God. The story of the prodigal son comes to mind, too, when I replay this exchange. No matter what we’ve done, no matter where we’ve been and no matter what’s been done to us, we never have to be afraid to go home. Repent, and believe. Jesus Christ, our Father, will always be ready to accept us with open arms.