Once upon a time, there was a wealthy man who had two sons. The younger son was a wild and reckless young man who wanted to live life on his own terms. He asked his father for his share of the inheritance, and the father, out of love, gave it to him.
The young man left his home and went to a faraway land. He spent his money on wild parties and extravagant living. He had a great time, but soon his money ran out. He was left with nothing and had to take a job feeding pigs. He was so hungry that he even considered eating the food that the pigs were eating.
One day, the young man had an epiphany. He realized that even his father’s servants had more than he did. He decided to go back home and ask his father for forgiveness. He rehearsed what he would say to his father and set off on the long journey home.
When he arrived, his father saw him from a distance and ran to him. He embraced his son and welcomed him home with open arms. The father ordered a feast to celebrate his son’s return. The older brother was angry and jealous that his father had welcomed his younger brother back with such joy.
The father explained to his older son that his younger brother had been lost, but now he was found. He said that his son’s return was cause for celebration. The father was so happy to have his son back that he gave him a ring and a robe to show his love.
The moral of this story is that no matter how far we stray, our loving Father will always welcome us back with open arms. We should never give up hope, even when we feel like we have gone too far. God’s love is unconditional and He will always forgive us if we come to Him with a repentant heart.
