The kids looked at the Parable of the Prodigal Son this morning. This is a modern spin on the parable for the kids today.
-Luke
‘Dad’s Love’
There was a dad who had two kids, a daughter, and a son. The dad loved his kids, and he liked to play fun games with them. The son, who was the younger of the two, got pretty cranky sometimes when things didn’t go his way in some of these games.
One day, the dad was playing cricket with his two kids. The son was batting when the dad bowled the ball right into the wickets. When the dad cheered, and said it was his sister’s turn to bat, the son got really cranky at his dad.
He said to his dad, “I hate you!”. And as he stormed off, he even swore at his dad.
The son went and found a place to hide around the other side of the house, because he thought he might get in big trouble for saying those things to his dad. But the dad didn’t even chase after his son. The dad was hurt by what the son said to him, so he let him go.
While the boy was hiding, he heard his dad and his sister having fun together. They were laughing, and yelling. It all sounded like so much fun. The son began to realise how much fun he was missing out on with his dad, by getting so cranky all the time when things didn’t go his way.
He was sitting in the dirt, in his hiding place, getting bitten by ants and mossies, when he thought to himself;
“I don’t want to be here. I want to be with my dad. I know I’m going to get in big trouble when I go back around there. But I’m going to go back anyway, because I’d rather get in trouble, than miss out on anymore with my dad.”
So, the son got up out of the dirt, and went back around to where his dad and sister were playing, ready to face the music. As the son walked around the corner of the house, the dad looked over and saw his son coming. The boy got ready to get in big trouble for saying the things he said. He got a bit scared and began to cry, as his dad walked towards him.
He said, “I’m sorry dad,” and cringed his eyes shut. But just as he did, his dad lifted his son into his arms and gave him a big hug. The dad said, “I love you Son, and I’m glad you’ve come back to play.”
The boy was relieved, but he cried a bit anyway, because he couldn’t believe how much his dad loved him, even after the mean things he’d said to his dad.
When the daughter saw this but, she was furious! Then it was her who stormed off. The dad chased after her, and he said, “What’s wrong?” She turned around, her face red with anger, and said;
“How could you let him get away with saying those mean things to you? He swore at you, and you don’t even give him a smack. You just let him back into our game. That’s just not fair. I’ve never done anything like that, but you don’t love me any more than you love him.”
The dad looked lovingly at his daughter, and said;
“My dear daughter, I love you with all the love I have. And I love your brother the same. I was hurt by what he said. I was even more hurt that he didn’t want to play with us. But he came back. He wants to be back, and that makes me happy. And because it makes me happy, it should make you happy too.”