Many parents do not have parenting skills or patience. Hence, children are growing up to be prodigals, rebels, and disobedient. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the Father was wise, had skills and patience to deal with his wayward son. (Luke 15:11-32) He reflected, repented, returned, reconciled, and restored, which helped the father to rejoice.
Wise: The father knew that his younger son could step out of his shadow, but not out of his influence. Hence, he dared to give the inheritance demanded by the prodigal son. No son could ask legally for inheritance when the father was alive. Though the prodigal son broke the law, traditions and protocol, the father was generous.
Did not pamper: What if the father had sent two servants to do surveillance of his son, and keep on giving resources when it was spent by the prodigal son? Father had resources and personnel to do so, but he refused to do it. He allowed his son to suffer so that he could reflect, repent, and be restored. A chick has to struggle, experience cracking the shells to emerge as a strong one from the egg. Facilitating the cracking would make the chick handicapped or dead.
Patient: He was a waiting father. Unlike in other parables, where the virgin and the shepherd were engaged in searching, the father was not. Nevertheless, he patiently waited for his younger son to return.
Remember and repent: When the prodigal son realised his hapless status, where the desired food by pigs. In his low estate, he remembers his home, the benevolent father and abundant provisions. So, he decides to repent and return to his father.
Restored: Father had skills to allow his younger son to enjoy space, where he could experiment with his free choice, inheritance, and travel far away from home. At the same time, he bore the shame and agony patiently waiting for his son to return. When he returned, he did not do a post-mortem of his son’s past, but began celebrating, looking forward to the future.
Do I have wisdom, skills and patience like the ‘Father?’