Although we’ll fall short, we have the privilege of being a reflection of our Heavenly Father to our children. We can pray for their salvation, allow them the space to make mistakes and learn from them, teach them to discern the thoughts and beliefs beneath their choices, and be ready to receive them with grace and forgiveness when they come in repentance.

A Gracious Hand

I watched the minutes tick by as time seemed to move in slow motion. Surrounded by bare white walls and the stench of shame, I sat alone in a hospital room that felt as empty as I did.

For years, my hurting and wandering heart had led me far from home, far from the guidance and love of my parents, and far from the wisdom and protection of my Heavenly Father. Much like the parable of the prodigal son, my heart had been lured by the promises of the world, the independence I longed for, and the happiness that I was determined to find by proving my worth to those around me.

The praise of others, the successes I accrued, and the temporary pleasures satisfied for a time, but the further I wandered, the more it took to fill the pit of emptiness growing within me.

Gradually, the shiny things of the world grew dull. What used to taste sweet turned bitter. And my sense of worth shifted with the winds of how others viewed me (or at least my perspective of it). My endless striving for approval, the longing to be filled with something lasting, and the battle between flesh and spirit became more than I could bear.

And it landed me in the pediatric psych ward of the hospital.

I had hit rock bottom—a place of utter desperation. And by God’s grace, he met me in that place of desperation and drew my heart into the never-ending love, forgiveness, and compassion he had been wooing me with all along but that I’d been too deaf to hear.

Finally, after years of wandering, my Heavenly Father had led me back to him in repentance—the place where I truly belonged.

Parenting Wandering Hearts

Now that I’m a parent, I’m reminded of my past when I see my children’s tendency to search for their worth and happiness in themselves and the world around them. And if you’re a parent, you’ve likely seen that natural tendency in your children to wander (or run!) from what God says is best—even if the nature of it looks different with each child.

The reality is, just like the prodigal son, our hearts are prone to search for something more than what God has already promised. Not only are our children born into a world that rejects the God who created it, but we all naturally desire to be self-sufficient and independent from authority and anything that might keep us from what we perceive as true happiness. But underneath it all is often a misdirected desire to be loved, valued, satisfied, and happy apart from the One who created and knows us.

For that reason, I’m thankful God’s word isn’t silent on this topic. Specifically, the account of the prodigal son is a relatable one to each of us. If you aren’t familiar with the story, I encourage you to read Luke 15:11–32 with your children.

Not only is this story timeless because it gets to the heart of each one of us, but it can be helpful to discuss with our children what the younger brother may have left home in search of. What might have drawn him away from his father and toward the world? How might they feel a similar pull? Much like Jesus’s use of parables to teach us deep spiritual truths, this story can be a launching point for conversation as we help our children evaluate the heart behind their thoughts, feelings, and choices.

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