A Modern Day Parable

There once was a father who had a son. Like most fathers, this one loved his son very much and wanted him to grow up with good character. He has was a good father and tried to teach his son and protect him from harm.

When the son was a toddler, he started acting like most toddlers do and wanted his own way in everything. "I want this toy!" and "I want that food!!"

It was enough to drive his father crazy. But the father was patient, and tried to instill wisdom in his son.

One day, the son was doing something very dangerous. He decided to walk on a tall rickety gate. His father tried to warn him that it was dangerous, but the son wouldn't listen to him.

And alas, the son fell.

When he got up, he looked right at his father and asked, "Why did you let that happen to me?!"

His father was flabbergasted! He had tried to warn his son about the dangers he was facing, and when his son hurt himself, he blamed him.

As this son grew a bit older, he started to do more dangerous things, including playing with fire. One day, he set on fire a garbage can that belonged to the neighborhood bully. The bully came around and tried to beat up the son, but the father came to defend him.

The father tried to get his son to see the error of his ways, and the son tried to act better.

For a while.

Then back to misbehaving went the son, no matter how hard the father tried to teach him about doing justly and loving mercy.

Finally, the son decided that he was not happy at home and decided to run away. He thought that his father was being too harsh with him, and that he wanted to have "more fun." So he took some of his father's money, sneaked out the window and went to the train station. He got on the first train headed south.

From then on, the son was on his own. No longer did he have his father's protection against the bullies of the world. No longer did he have his father to love him and protect him. His father still loved him, but could not protect him because he was not at home.

The father still watches for him every day. He still hopes that he'll return. And if he does, there will be a huge party.

Until then, he waits... and hopes.

God bless,
Brandie