Parent First

“There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, give me my share of the estate. So, he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had and set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.” Luke 15:11-13

Every now and again I stumble on to the Parable of the Lost Son, also known as the Prodigal Son. This famous story was told by Jesus and features a father and two sons. The younger son wanted his inheritance now and then he was leaving, leaving, leaving. There are indeed many angles to the story, but the one I want to focus on is the dad.

Using my imagination, no doubt the dad was not happy with the way his son was acting. Yes, he was old enough to be on his own, but was he ready? He came to his father making all kinds of demands that he had no right to do. Nevertheless, his dad gave him his portion.

No, the dad didn’t have a cell phone or car to rush out to find him. Instead, he let him go, doing what all parents must do and that is to trust in God. Sometimes our children just don’t understand where we are coming from. Parents tell us things because they have been down that road before and trying to keep us from the same mistakes.I know for myself that I didn’t always listen to my parents when they were telling me stuff, but in time I learned, they were right all along.

But like my parents prayed for me, I know that father prayed for his son. As a parent where we leave off, God picks up. There are no better hands for them to be in than His. While that son was doing his so called, thang, his dad continued to pray for him. I know he thought about him everyday. Parenthood and the loving concern we have for our children isn’t something you can just turn off and on like a light switch.

But look how reality brought that son home friends. See even when we see something as a parent, it is our children who must come to understand things for themselves. Still in my own imagination, I can see that dad looking out over the fields as he noticed a figure coming up the road. That dad recognized that it was his son, he knew that walk anywhere. A sigh of relief and then Joy filled his heart and before he knew it, he was running to his son. He threw his arms around him and kissed him with hellos, I am glad you are okays, and welcome home. The son knew he didn’t do things the right way as tears fell from his eyes. His father focused on building him up instead of tear him down. Clean clothes were put on his body, rings on his fingers, food in his stomach, and he told everyone to prepare for celebration. My son’s home!

Sometimes the greatest lessons don’t come from home, but when you are away. Parents are not perfect, but we love our children unconditionally. One day they will know this love when they have a family. The father reminds his eldest son of the importance of love and forgiveness as he tells him, this brother of yours was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found. Amen.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.