God is relational and the restoration of our broken relationship with Him is at the heart of the Christian message. Perhaps the most famous parable that Jesus told on the topic was the story of the prodigal son. Here's my take on it with a modern twist...
Prodigal DaughterGod loves us. He loves me. He loves you. He longs to restore our relationship with Him. That's why Jesus came to the earth: to live and die and rise again from the dead, so that we could have a relationship restored.
A story inspired by Luke 15
A young woman couldn’t wait to leave home and see the world. Just days after her high school graduation, she packed up her few belongings into the car her parents had bought for her just the year before and headed off across the country to a new life, new experiences and freedom. At first things were great. She worked hard and partied harder. Boyfriends came and went; friendships too. Then came an economic downturn. She lost her job and with it the ability to pay rent. She found herself sleeping on the couches of friends when they’d let her, or in her car when they didn’t. She found part time work here and there, but nothing permanent.
One morning after a restless night trying to sleep in her car she thought “What am I doing here? Back home I had a room and food. I had friends, family and parents that loved me. I should go home and maybe Mom and Dad would let me stay with them for a while, just until I get back on my feet.”
She scraped together enough gas money to drive back home, wondering all the way what she would say to her parents. They’d had such hopes for her and here she was, a failure and big disappointment to everyone. They might not even let her through the door and she wouldn’t blame them. She’d hardly spoken to them in months and when she had she always pretended everything was fine. How could she tell them the truth? She was ashamed. Still, they loved her, right? She hoped. She drove.
As she pulled around the corner of her parent’s road, her mother happened to be in the driveway, about to get into her car. She thought she recognized her daughter’s car approaching, but what would she be doing here? The mother’s puzzled look seemed like a scowl to her daughter as she drew closer, but as soon as she realized it was indeed her daughter, she immediately ran to meet her. The daughter could barely shut off the car and get out of her seat before her mom pulled her into her arms, crying and laughing. Just behind her, the daughter’s father had stepped out of the house to see what was going on. He too ran over to his daughter and threw his arms around both of them. “Mom. Dad. Can I stay here a while, just until I get back on my feet?” she asked.
“Stay as long as you need to my love,” her Dad replied. “Welcome home. This will always be your home.”
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