One of My Favorite Stories of All Time

Is there anything more touching than the demonstration of a parent's love for their children?



I think that is why the parable of the prodigal son will always be one of my personal favorites.



“There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘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, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate." ~Luke 15:11-24 (NIV)



Here is the true beauty of this story: We've all had times when we travel away from God and squander the gifts He has given us. This is my story, and I suspect it could be yours as well.



But thank God, the story doesn't end there. The Father is waiting. He's watching out the window, and even though we may still be a long way off in our journey back to Him, He runs to us with open arms, buries us in His loving embrace, and welcomes us home with a heavenly celebration.



If that's not a perfect picture of a Father's love, I don't know what is.