I can hear one of our dogs barking, way down the hill by the creek in the lower two acres. I just know which one it is. Lucky. We have a house full of animals, including our two dachshunds, Lucky and Bo-Bo, and our lives are filled with the joy of the different aspects of these little four-legged blessings. And I always know which one is making mischief!

Our Lucky is a very adventurous sort. He has never found something he didn’t like to chase, eat, sniff, lick, or bark at. Bo-Bo, on the other hand, enjoys a few minutes of barking and chasing but then prefers to spend his time curled up beside my desk or close by on the couch. He asserts his position every day as an “inside dog” who barks at outside noises, as opposed to Lucky, who loves his freedom to roam and investigate, who barks outside at all noises.

This may sound unusual, but animals, more than people, often bring to mind and help me understand stories I have read in the Bible, stories of how problems were addressed in those days centuries ago and what we can learn from them. I suppose it’s because dogs seem more consistent than people at times!

In that light, I like to compare my doggies to the young men described in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son (see Luke 15:11-32). The dogs help me understand more about that story.

In the Bible account, the younger son in a family, apparently stretching for his own personal freedom and desire to experience the “outside world,” asked his dad for his portion of any inheritance he was in line for and then moved on down the road. He went to another country to live, apparently thinking that being separated from the family would free him to roam and to enjoy life.

Now here come the limits to this analogy, since our Lucky doesn’t really intend to reject his family. But, generally speaking, the prodigal son would be like my Lucky. “Give me some bacon treats and I am out of here to go down the hill, get into the brambles, get covered with mud, chase that herd of deer and a wild turkey, get a few sticks caught in my hair, maybe a bug or two … really living!”

His brother, Bo-Bo, is like the older brother in the story, who stayed home with his father and faithfully served him during the years of his brother’s absence. Bo-Bo never goes far; he’s always faithful and stays very close.

Now in the Bible story, you may recall that the younger son ran out of money, was forced to get a job feeding swine, and would have been glad to eat even the food the swine ate. He soon decided to return home, even though he would be returning in disgrace. He came home humbly, tail between his legs, so to speak. To his surprise, his father met him as he was on his way back, rejoicing and warmly welcoming him. His father clothed him with the best garment and prepared a welcome-home party.

The older son was hurt and disappointed. He had remained faithful all along, and now the “party animal” was not being punished, but treated royally by his father. My Bo-Bo can be the same way. He runs over and jumps up on me when Lucky returns home as if to say, “Pet me, pet me. I have faithfully stayed at home and been your good doggie. Can’t you see that Lucky was a bad doggie?”

We love because it is the inherent nature of God's creation to reflect divine Love.

But you know what? I love both of these little guys—one for his willingness to return home at the end of the day; the other for his faithfulness and obedience, staying by my side. Reading that parable as told by Jesus, I can see how each of the individuals would have felt. And also as a father to children, I understand that love eventually cuts through the fear, negativity, jealousy, criticism, and hurt feelings and provides the balm that heals. We love because it is the inherent nature of God’s creation to reflect divine Love.

I have talked to a number of fathers who have been disappointed by their children. But almost every one, no matter that their sons or daughters might have acted thoughtlessly or selfishly, abandoned home, perhaps having taken a pathway that was disappointing to the family—those same fathers have shared just how warmly they would receive their children again, giving them unbounded love and affection.

I also know many children, young adults, who have been the “party animals” and have separated from the family for any number of reasons. I understand and have heard clearly from them how they truly long for that love and comfort of family, how they want to return to that feeling of belonging, acceptance, and forgiveness.

Jesus told that story of the prodigal son for a reason. He was really sharing how God, divine Love, Mind, and Truth, our Father, never stops loving His children, and how that constancy supports their awakening to their inseparability from their spiritual source. No matter how deep into the “far country” they may have wandered, their pathway home is at hand.

May both the prodigals and faithful children understand that divine Love is never ending, and receive and rejoice in understanding God as their patient, true, forgiving Father-Mother, and receive the blessings of love and peace.

Thanks, Lucky and Bo-Bo, for the lessons we have shared. I love you both.