Several years back I watched a match involving a young Dustin Rhodes. In the weeks prior to this particular match, Dustin had been constantly attacked and was in need of someone to help him or be his eyes and ears during his matches. No one came to his aide. Just to add in a little side story Dustin's father is a wrestler also a.k.a. "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. Father and son have had a falling out and are currently enstranged. Their disagreement stems from the son feeling superior to his father and wanting to do things his own way. (add to) The son had not gained the necessary experience
Coming back to the match at hand, Dustin is again under attack and the prospects of help coming from another wrestler are slim. All of a sudden the crowd goes wild and out of nowhere appears.....Dusty Rhodes "the American Dream", Dustins father.
Now at this time I am literally jumping with excitement. First, the crowd reaction has got me on edge. Second, I am wondering who could it be. Having been a fan of wrestling long enough, I have learned to read the crowd.
I scream at the top of my lungs "yeah". The father has come to the aide of his son and within a matter of 30-45 seconds the pair fight off the attackers and are alone in the ring to revel in victory over their bruised and hapless foes. When the Rhodes tandem are sure that all is well, they face each other and appear to 'eye each other up'. Not long forgotten tensions rise and the crowd brace for a showdown. A palpable tension fills the arena.
Dustin just looks at his dad with uncertainty in his eyes. Feeling satisfied he nods a thank you for coming to his aide. But Dusty takes it one step further.
"Son. I see what has been happening to you week after week after week. And I want you to know that if you want some help, I am hear. When everyone else forsook you and turned their backs on you i said my son needs me. Well, here I am! I don't need to sign on the dotted line of a contract. All I want is a hug and a handshake to seal the deal." With that said, Dusty and Dustin, father and son embrace putting the past behind them. The crowds erupts. (I tear up a little.)
Dustin began to realize, he really does need his father. Not just as a dad, but as a mentor, counselor and friend. He was wrong to discount his fathers sage advice. His dad did not want him to fall into the same traps he fell into when he first started in the wrestling business.
God treats us that way, where He wants nothing but the best for us and only asks that we seek His counsel and stay close to Him as we go through life. But when we go in a direction He advises against, He allows it. NOT because He does not care, but because we need to learn to trust in the Father. The people who come beside us appear to be our friends but only use us for their gain. Over time when we fall out of favor and realize how hasty the decision was to go our own way, the enemy begins to attack us. To whom do we turn? Our pleas for help have gone unheard. Those who on many occassions professed to be our friends have abandoned us. Our faith is now weakened. The One person we should call on, we have walked away from. Shame fills us and we regret having gone against the wishes of our Father. Yet, no matter the road we choose to travel, and bad decisions we make along the way God will never leave us or forsake us. His holy word tells us.
Just as the prodigal son returned home humbled by what transpired in his life and how much he missed his father we too can return to ours.
The prodigals father did not ask for him to agree to certain conditions upon his return. Instead, he hugged him and kissed him and loved him. Dusty wanted his son to know that conditions are not necessary. "Just tell me you love me and all is forgiven." Dusty said.
Dustin replied "I love you dad."
Proverbs 10:12 and 1Peter 4:8 both say "Love covers a multitude of sins."
God bless and have a great day.
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