142 Street Tough
"Mad Dog" Marshall grew up on the wrong side of the streets. His father died at an early age and his mother worked two jobs to try to support the both of them. She did her best to take care of Marshall, but he did not want to be babied by her. He wanted to become a tough guy. He joined a gang at an early age and lived life fast and hard. He finally was arrested for his role in a gang fight that left one youth dead.
At his trial, Marshall sneered at the jury and laughed at the victim's family. He did not cry or show any remorse when the judge sentenced him to 20 years in jail. He was led away from the courtroom with his head held high and defiant. Marshall only turned his head back to see a glimpse of mother sobbing inconsolably.
Marshall served his time fully and was finally released after 20 years. Jail did nothing but harden Marshall. He never regretted what he did in that gang fight 20 years ago. Marshall strutted through his old neighborhood. He went to his old home and rang the doorbell. He felt that he should at least let his mother know that he was free again.
When the door opened, Marshall was shocked to see a haggard old woman standing in front of him. Gray streaks ran across through her hair and her face seemed so aged. "Mother?" Marshall cried out. Without anything being said, Marshall saw in his mother's sunken eyes how his years in jail caused her so much pain and suffering. He saw how much his mother yearned for him to be at home again, how much she missed him, all the nights crying for him, waiting for him to come home.
Tears poured out of Marshall's and his mother's eyes as they hugged each other tightly. Suddenly, all the hardness and toughness fled Mashall's body and was replaced with a stinging remorse and guilt. "My poor, beautiful mother," Marshall lamented, "what have I done to you?"
No matter how much we push God away and how far from Him we run, God is still there waiting with open arms and yearning for us to return to Him.
Recommended reading:
- Luke 13:34
