My Father and my perfect friend

Today, I am still a little broken boy inside and God is still my Father. Wherever I go, I seek Him to walk by my side, hold me by the hand and lead me. When I stumble and fall, He reaches out and helps me get up. He dusts my clothes, kisses me where I hurt and continues to walk with me on the road.

When I do something good, I see him smile, applaud and show me His support. When I do something wrong, He scolds me and punishes me. When I am weary and tired, He keeps me upright, pulls me forward and encourages me so that I do not give up. When I'm afraid, He takes my hand. When I am sad, He embraces my heart.

I look to Jesus for help and direction in everything I do and He never disappointed me. He was always there when I needed Him.

This loving relationship with my Father began more than fifty years ago. It has not always been easy. At times, I moved away from Him, trying to follow my own path, I even rebelled, but He was always there to welcome me with his arms wide open, waiting for me to return to Him. His fidelity has never faltered - He is a perfect Friend and Father. However, my fidelity to Him is a quality that I had to learn, and to which I still work every day. It is a lifelong process.

When I gave my heart to Jesus, I had no idea where this whole new faith was going to take me. I was alone and frightened, wondering how He was going to save me from the people and things of my past, gangs and drugs that kept me captive. I did not know how to be His child, but He showed it to me, tutored me all the way. But throughout these years I have been in the front row to see what can happen when we allow the Spirit of God to be liberated within and among us when we draw from His Glory and that we allow Him to work, to work and to act through us.

Nicky Cruz