In one of the most famous parables in the Bible, Jesus tells of the Prodigal Son. “There was once a wealthy man who had two sons,” Jesus says. “The younger one said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate now.’ ” The boy took his share, sold it, and fled with the money. He traveled, gambled, partied, drank, ate like a king, and within a week, he’d spent everything. He found work on a farm feeding pigs. He couldn’t afford food, so he ate what the pigs ate. Finally, it occurred to him that back home, even his father’s servants ate in abundance. So he set out for home, intent on confessing to his father, “I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers.”
Before the boy could own up to what he had done, Jesus explains, his father called to his servants, “Hurry! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast! For this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.”
Your kids may never demand their share of the estate, but they will stray. They will act out. They will try to establish their independence. They will get themselves into trouble. As parents, we have to accept that, and accept them all the same. We have to take them back. We have to give them what they need. And when they wander back, we have to make sure they’re always met not with reproach or “I told you so” but with affection and understanding.