Article August 3, 1929 Issue

The Father of the Prodigal Son

IDA NELSON LOCKWOOD

The parable of the prodigal son, "the pearl of parables," abounds in valuable lessons applicable at all times to the experiences incident to the precious human relationship of parent and child. At no period, probably, has this relationship presented more problems than in our own time. Never have parents more truly needed the helpful lessons this parable affords. Much has been said and written in the effort to draw from it helpful lessons for the wayward child; but perhaps the attitude of the father in the parable has not always been sufficiently emphasized as affording the highest guidance for parents who may be called upon to face such a situation in some milder form.

Jesus, no doubt, had in thought our heavenly Father, and desired to illustrate His enduring loving-kindness toward all of His children; and since the real man exists as the image and likeness of God, the proper attitude for mankind to seek to hold under all circumstances must be that of Godlikeness. Then, any human parent who faces such an experience may well approach the study of this parable with deepest humility and learn from it the perfect method for working out the problem.

In such human experiences it is not unusual for the parent to suffer far more keenly than does the child. Not until the child reaches the extremity of prodigality does his anguish begin to equal that of his parents. In the parable, however, Jesus does not draw such a picture. Here we find the father patiently permitting the son to choose his own course and learn for himself that good can never be found in evil. Then we find him tenderly expecting and awaiting the return of the wayward one. There is no note of disappointment, anger, resentment, hardness, or despair on the part of the father. Here one may say, You are asking the impossible when expecting a parent to maintain such a poise while seeing a child wasting his opportunities, his money, and even his health, recklessly disregarding the consequences.

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