He lets us run

He lets us run

by Joel Howard

My neighbor, father

Had sons young and old

Outside one day

The young one left, I'm told

Father just watched

He let him go

Seemed he bereft

But still let him run

He and I had lunch

The week or two later

"Father," I asked

"What is the matter?"

He told me his son had taken

His inheritance early

"I can't believe it"

Father said to me

"You let him do that?!"

I asked, in guffaw

"You let him take all he'd get?"

He answered sadly

Yet unmoved

"I let him do 

what he would do"

Weeks went on

Days passed by

I saw father looking 

For his son outside

Every evening

And every day

Father stood watching

That eastward way

Crazy, I thought it

That the young one would leave

Never had I

Seen such abhorrence

Still I remember

the man next door

Calm his countenance

Such pain, endured

He lets us take

Our time on the way

He lets us run

He lets us escape

Though not forever, 

He will return

Father lets go

The ones who would learn

Some may not come back

Some may leave long

Yet there's a remnant

Who will belong

Faithful, he watches

Faithful, he prays

That the prodigal

Would come home one day

I saw the father

change, though, his plan

The day his son came back

This night, as the sun setting

Ran he, yes ran he

To meet his son returning

I saw him sprint, no

Yes stumble

Pulled he a muscle

Scraped he a knee

But met they his son and

He in love's embrace

Mercy met manhood

Feet found a way

It reminds me of scripture

That teaches that God will return

To those who turn to him

God will forgive

Those who confess to him

So this dad ran

To the son who came in

He lets us run

Yet hopes to win

Gives a head start

Lets us begin

Saves his sprint for the last

Saves his run for the end

God lets us run first

But man does he win!