“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2Pet 3:9)
You are warmly welcome. To illustrate God’s goodness in patience, we have a parable that many have argued should have a different title; it is in Luke 15:11-32 and is commonly called the ‘Parable of the Prodigal (Lost) Son’, but the better title proposal is the ‘Parable of the Merciful Father’. The preference of the former title may be partly due to our species’ inherent predilection for bad news – the negative bias, people’s inclination to respond quicker to words like ‘cancer’, ‘bomb’, or ‘war’ than words like ‘baby’, ‘smile’ or ‘fun’, despite these pleasant words being slightly more common. In fact, following this style, my article entitled “Terrible Son: From Palace to the Pit” may attract more readers than the similar one entitled “Good Good Father: Patience in Parenting”.
The parable that is really evangelistic is also beneficial in instructing parents and their children; it uses the picture of an excellent earthly parent to portray God as the merciful and patient Father who receives every sinner that returns. While not every parent is this merciful, it is easy to understand that father’s action, and we have said many times that ‘blood is thicker than water’. Some inherent tie between father and son explains the father’s quick five-step journey: he saw, sympathized, ran, hugged, and kissed his returning son! To be realistic, we should acknowledge that this man was not a fool, and must have felt bad and castigated his wicked son’s actions of not only asking for his inheritance, but going and squandering it in wild living; news would come back home on how this young man was spending time in the red-light bars on strong drink with different girls – all the wicked wild living; until he ran broke and sank into the humiliating suffering.
What should this father do? From that merciful father in Luke 15, we see patience in parenting – a virtue that should be learnt, remembered and embraced by all parents today. Its practice will be unique in each family, but by God’s grace every parent is able to respond to this high calling. When that terrible child returns, receive them.
In the same way Apostle Peter calls us to correctly understand God’s apparent slowness which actually is an expression of his patience. He is patiently waiting for his son to return before the door is shut. That is how good our God is; but how do we respond? Are you still in the reckless living, taking for granted God’s goodness and patience? Return now before the patience runs out!
God bless you.
Rev. Eng. Dr. Emmanuel Mwesigwa – CHAPLAIN