I think everyone has at one point or another felt a little lost or a little alone. These stories bring so much hope.
Today, in my New Testament class we were talking about the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Which is a story that everyone should read over and over and over again. (One of the Prophets or Apostles said that.)
The Parable of the Prodigal Son can fit into a lot of different situations and has something to tell everyone, no matter what point you are at.
If you don't know the story here it is:
A man had two sons. The younger one asked for his inheritance and then went away and ended up spending it all on "riotous living." When he had spent it all, there was a famine and he was starving. He got a job feeding pigs and at one point realized he was eating worse than the pigs. He thought of his home and also realized that his father's servants were also eating better than him, so he decided to go home and work as a servant for his father.
"I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants." (Luke 15:18-19)
So, he went home planning out what he would say to his father. Here's the thing, the boys father saw him coming and ran to him, so happy that he had come home, that the boy didn't even get a chance to ask to be his servant. His father got him nice clothing, fed the best food they had to offer and threw a party celebrating his return home.
When Jesus taught this parable, he could have left it at that, but he didn't.
The second part of the story brings a third person. The older son. He is upset that while he has been home, working with his father the entire time there was never a party thrown for him. He wasn't given the best robe, the best food, new shoes or anything, but he felt like he deserved all of that way more than his younger brother who wasted his inheritance.
What happens next is one of my favorite scriptures:
"And he [the father] said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found." (Luke 15:31-32)
There are so many things we can learn from this Parable.
1. You are going to make mistakes. One day you might leave home and accidentally spend your inheritance. You will hit rock bottom. You will feel loneliness, hunger, despair, guilt, sadness, pain. But when you make that decision to humble yourself and return to your Father in Heaven He will welcome you with open arms and unconditional love. He will celebrate your return, He will cheer, He will jump for joy, because your soul is precious to Him and you are His child. Maybe there will even be tears in His eyes as He looks at your face and knows that you are home, safe and sound.
2. Maybe you aren't making mistakes. Maybe you are doing everything just the way you should. You are following the rules, you are serving others, you are going to church, you are saying your prayers, but you don't feel like you are getting the blessings you deserve. Maybe you aren't being celebrated for your righteousness. Maybe you don't feel as welcomed as the ones who are coming back. But you know what? You are SO blessed. Everything that the Father has is yours. He knows you are doing what you are supposed to do. He already has blessings pouring into your life. Trust God.
3. Don't compare yourself to others. Heavenly Fathers knows you. He's paying attention to you too. He doesn't love one child more than another.
4. Remember that your Father in Heaven and your brother, Jesus Christ should be your examples of how to love others. Treat others like the father in the story. When people make mistakes continue to love them. No one is perfect. You aren't perfect. It isn't your job to judge others. Your job is to try and get yourself back to Heavenly Father, and then to help everyone else get back also. Every soul is important.
"There are feet to steady
Hands to grasp
Minds to encourage
Hearts to inspire
And souls to save.
Are we doing all we should?"
-Thomas S. Monson
"No one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another. I
testify that He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image,
and all. He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure
our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not
against each other. I know that if we will be faithful, there is a
perfectly tailored robe of righteousness ready and waiting for everyone, “robes … made … white in the blood of the Lamb.”
-Jeffrey R. Holland The Other Prodigal April 2002
