A Journey of Forgiveness…

One day, a friend and I were discussing the parable of the Prodigal Son.  She said that this is the one parable that often brings up resentment in her and that she always has difficulty accepting.  The reason being, she was the one in her family that stayed home… she was the ‘good daughter.’

“So, in essence, someone can go and do whatever they please and just because they come home saying ‘I’m sorry,’ everyone celebrates and forgets what happened?!  That is so unfair!  It doesn’t undo what they did.” I had to agree, it does seem unfair.  However, let’s look at it in a different light….

If your sibling was lost in a world of sin, be it alcohol, drugs, or any number of things that can tear a family apart, and, after many years of hoping, praying and heartache, he finally makes an earnest effort to journey that long road back and return to the family… what would you do?  Would your family not gather in celebration? Wouldn’t your heart nearly burst with joy at the return of your long lost sibling?  All the worry, stress and pain can be gone.  It doesn’t eliminate the pain or hurt experienced, but, forgiveness happens in spite of those because Love and Hope are at the core of who we are as Christians.

Remember, it doesn’t diminish who YOU are… How grateful your father is that he can depend on you. You are no less loved because you were the one who stayed and did as you were expected.  You have brought your family peace through this turmoil because you were faithful.  Your family’s celebration doesn’t take away all that your father has given you… it remains yours. 

In forgiveness, you lose nothing…. but gain so much more!