Choosing Love: Parenting a runaway.
Remember Rembrandt’s amazing painting the Return of the Prodigal Son? I have seen it and have had sent students studying conversational English in Russia to revisit it at the Hermitage Museum. This morning I realized that something was missing from that English lesson in reviewing and writing about art. You have to wonder how important is it whether the painting is true to the story? In this case, the story has been told over and over again to demonstrate God the Father’s love and forgiveness.
I keep coming back to “Above all maintain an intense love for each other since love coves a multitude of sins (1 Pet 4.).” Wouldn’t you want to get the story straight of what love looks like, especially if you see how prone you yourself are to wander and how you want to nurture good decision-making in your children? If living the life of a grateful child of God (whether you are a mom or dad) and giving Him the glory makes for the best teacher, what are the next steps? A picture is worth a thousand words to your children. Which son are you most like?
Neither of the sons initially had things right. Both of them had self-centered reasons for what they did. The younger son wanted to travel, live the idle rich life, and make all his choices independent of his family - all at the expense of his Father. When he returns, all he knows is that his Father will have mercy on him as a human being. He believes his rights as a son are gone, but that his Father will sustain him.
The self-righteous son stands off to the side in his beautiful clothes, put off by the disgusting condition of his younger brother. Perhaps he stayed out of duty, loyalty, or to retain privilege. Where is the love and gratitude in this son? It comes out that he expected more attention and rewards for all his work and good choices. He resents not being recognized during the celebration of his brother’s return. The older son wants his Father to keep the focus on him and to be the honored one. God’s generosity towards sinners has been challenged by more than one person.
In God’s upside kingdom - he loves people back to himself. He will use people other than ourselves and circumstances out of our control to bring our children back to His ways. He can change our children’s direction on a dime. God does not triumphantly say, “I told you so!” He mourns self-destructive wandering and waits for each child’s return. The father was looking and waiting - he ran (an undignified move) to embrace his son in Luke’s parable. So how does that play out in your story?
In my story, I do not see the end being near, but I constantly see answers to my prayers. I am tired of the battles that it takes to overcome my own hurts, hangups and habits. This morning I asked for humility and a heart that is tender. Suffering tends to bring me to that place. When I am comparing myself to families where I imagine peace and happiness exist or to those who seem to be struggling more than I am - I vacillate between discouragement and brief relief. Instead, when I put those whom I care for into God’s hands; I feel the security of God’s love protecting both of us when I can not. I have seen the Father’s love intervene in ways that are powerful and unexplainable in the normal scheme of things. I am grateful and I praise God because He is relational and He is the loving and all-powerful One - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
