A Father’s Open Arms
What are we going to do when we get home? When the two sons of the parable of the prodigal son both have returned to their father, what then? The answer is simple: They have to become fathers themselves. Sons have to become fathers; daughters have to become mothers.
Being children of God involves growing up and becoming like God. Jesus doesn’t hesitate to say this: “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect, be compassionate as your heavenly Father is compassionate” (see Matthew 5:48 and Luke 6:36).
How? By welcoming home our lost brothers and sisters the way our Father welcomes us home.
—Henri Nouwen
Becoming Fathers and Mothers
Nouwen mentions the passage in Luke’s Gospel we refer to as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. I suspect most of us can see ourselves in the prodigal; we’ve all squandered God’s goodness to us to some degree, and realizing this, return to His embrace. Perhaps we can even put ourselves, at times, into the jealous brother’s shoes, disturbed to see others blessed in ways we feel we deserve. But all of us—especially dads like me—do very well to learn from the father’s love in this story. Like our Heavenly Father, he welcomes with open arms; no need for excuse or explanation. Just an awaiting embrace. Life in the here and now; not yesterday. Lord, might we grow in this grace! Teach us to love like You. —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics