Loving the Prodigal Child

I keep thinking of the parable of the prodigal son. Not the son himself, nor his self-righteous brother, but the father in that story.

He stays patient, waiting within the realm of his kingdom. He doesn't track down his wayward son. He doesn't follow him to beg and plead with him to come home. He doesn't accept his son's sinful actions or justify them. He lets him veer off into his own folly, calmly waiting to thoroughly love him when he finally comes home.

That story is obviously representative of our restless hearts and God's unflinching love. But it also represents the model we take as parents when our children balk against the truth, and we are left to suffer from the weight of their actions.

It can be overwhelming. I'm overwhelmed more often than not. But the pressure valve, the release, is turning back to Him who knows our broken hearts. He doesn't just have one child or even a few who have proven to be willfully disobedient.

We all fall into that category, and the mercy and grace He pours upon us is unmatched.

A reminder that even though we can't control the poor decision-making of our children, we can control the weight of our response and the intensity of our love.