A father divides his livelihood with his two sons—one remained with his father to serve, obey and work for him, while the other moved away to live a sinful life and wasted all of the possessions he was given.

The prodigal son’s rebellious living caught up to him in consequence and time, and when he came to his senses he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.'”

So he repented and began his journey to return home to his father. When his father saw him in the distance, his loving heart filled with compassion and he ran to him with open arms. He responded to his son’s confession and plea for forgiveness with a calling to his servants to “bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

But when his other son heard the news, he spouted to his father: “I have been serving you [for many years]; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came (not even calling him brother), who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.” He let his heart fill with anger and envy over what he perceived as mistreatment from his father.

Nonetheless, this loving father knew exactly what to say to this prideful heart. He replied, “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found” (Luke 15:11-32).

I imagine his son heard his father’s voice, and that their family came together in the God’s perfect bond of love. This story is a reminder to me, that we are all God’s children and servants. We must forgive one another as we have so mercifully been forgiven of our sins, and always return back to the Father no matter how bad we’ve sinned. We must share the joy of being in a loving relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ to our brothers and sisters, and remain thankful to be a part of the family and workmanship of God.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is [His] faithfulness.”