The Prodigal Son and Father
Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. I had the chance to study it at IBS last summer and really steeped myself in the mindset of the two sons. Tim Keller’s book Prodigal God also gives great perspective to the parable as well.
These few days I’ve been putting myself more into the shoes of the father. I have thought about just how big the heart break he must have felt when his younger son came to him asking for the inheritance. How broken he must have been and yet he honoured the rebellious wishes and let go.
I know some families, some parents who’ve experienced tremendous heart break due to a child leaving and going their own way never to return. They are still waiting. I wonder how I would deal with that circumstance. I wonder if I was faced with the necessity to move (physically) whether I would actually move, not knowing if my child would ever be able to find me when he decides to return and discovers that I’ve move(d on).
How long would I stay in that house, hoping that one day my child would return through the very gates he departed so many foolish years ago. Would I be the last one to hold onto a whisper of a hope after everyone else has gone back to normal life and work and routine. Would I sit there, on the porch, waiting each day looking more like the foolish one with each passing sunset.
Oh the sweet sweet love of our Father, who is waiting so patiently.