--LOVING A PRODIGAL ~~

--"We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again;
he was lost and is found." --[Luke 15:32]

~~~I have a special friend who has impressed me with the profound and sacrificial love she and her husband have lavished on their children, particularly a former prodigal son.

"[My son] took us on a twelve-year journey into this world of prodigaldom," she says. She founded a worldwide day of prayer for prodigals, which began as an effort by this mom to pray for her son--who has returned to his faith.

The biblical prodigal son said callously to his father, "I want my share of your estate now before you die" (Luke 15:12 /NLT). After receiving his inheritance early, he moved away and squandered his inheritance. Not until he lost everything did he return home and confess his sins to his father, who welcomed him with open arms.

"You don't give up because you do love that wayward one," my friend says. We learn that from God, "who keeps on loving, keeps on believing, keeps on forgiving."

Praise God for His love for all of us...even the prodigals. He patiently calls, "Come back to life! I am waiting for you with open arms. No matter what you may have done, I forgive you."
---ODB/RD
--"Prodigal"// Casting Crowns ~~ (lyrics)<https://youtu.be/_PT5feZZUuU>
~~~~~~~~~