The Prodigal Parent

Well hello.
Been awhile.
I have been writing blog post for a group called Foundations For Family life for about the last year and while I am obviously active on their site, I realized that it might be worth it to be so on mine as well. Here is the latest and greatest.

Lately I have been contemplating the topic of fear. This world has a lot to offer in the way of things to be scared of. From getting spooked by that dumb motion activated spider on someone’s door step Halloween night to the fear of being a parent, it’s a real thing. One of the hardest things for us to face in this life is the fear of who we were and being able to overcome the past to build better relationships with people we love.

               I think of the prodigal son in the Bible- a boy who as soon as he was able, took his inheritance from his father and ran off. He squandered it, disregarded the counsel of his father, and gave no heed to the wisdom of others who were wiser than he. Instead, he followed his friends and chose to do things his way. When all was said and done he was left with nothing. Physically he was out of money and had nothing but the cloths on his back. His friends were all gone and the fun of the world had turned into misery and pain. Work was scares, the one job he found was caring for the pigs, with no food of his own outside the slob that the animals fed on. I take the liberty to assume that it was fear of facing ones who he disobeyed, fear of admitting wrong, fear of having to face his father and family, fear of being less than he was before and fear of never living up to being less than a servant that kept him from coming home sooner.

               Even so, the experience soon wore on him and until the need for proper care made it worth it to face his fears and come home. He had no idea that his father would be watching, waiting and longing for his return. The father knew that the path his son choice would not end in joy and happiness, and prayed that when that day came, his son would return. We don’t know from the account how many days the father waited for the return of his son, but it mattered not. He waited. To the son’s amazement, his father saw him from afar off and started to run to him in the distance. He wrapped his son in the biggest hug and tears streamed down his face as he held his son in his arms again, seeing with his own eyes the one he loved so much. When they reached the house, they had a party, killed the fated calf and celebrated the return of his beloved son. (Luke 15:11-32).

               When we screw up and choose to make poor choices or get distracted it can be hard to come home. Its scary to face the ones we hurt and disappointed. Terrifying to think of their reaction that would surly come when we admit our wrong- this prodigal son was convinced his father would never want to see him again and was prepared to be a servant the rest of his days in his father’s house where he would have to live with a daily reminder of his bad life decisions, never able to live up to who “he could have been”. Not to mention the comparison between him and his brother that were sure to come.

               We are imperfect parents who fall short. But we have a loving Heavenly Father who is always ready and willing to welcome us back and just like the son, we will ALWAYS be welcomed to our Fathers arms. Christ plea to come, seek and knock was PLEA to come unto Him, to come HOME. By facing our fear and choosing to make the choice to return, to apologize and submit to the will of the Lord, whatever that may be, we are able to walk up that dusty path and come back to the Father. The beautiful and amazing thing is, the effort in knocking on the door to our savior’s home, comes in the decision to do what we need to return and as we start walking, I can promise you that He is waiting. Just as the father waited for his son, so is our Savior waiting for us. The father ran to meet the son while he “was yet afar off in the distance” and God will always do the same.

               I learned a powerful lesson from my parents who taught me the power of admitting wrong and changing their life even when it was hard. It takes courage and humility to say “I’m sorry” and even greater so when you look your children in the eye and say those words. You might feel like the son returning home, having to face the one he hurt. But great blessings will come as you do so and put forth the faith to show them through your actions. I know from personal experience that no greater lesson can be taught to a child then by watching their parents change their lives in both word and action.

               Our dusty paths home all differ in their course but they are all full of “I’m sorrys” and “I’ll do betters”. None of us walk it alone. Parenthood is a process that requires the best efforts of imperfect people but with humble hearts and faith in Christ we can overcome our weakness and be more than we are on our own.