"...we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." (Luke 15:32, HCSB)

When I was initially planning September’s article, I was leaning towards writing about a Titus 2 woman. Someone who lives a good and upright life to help teach the younger generations. However, when I sought the advice and wisdom of parents with older children, I was moved to a place of humility, seeing so much love, compassion, and even some regret from mothers and fathers who didn’t just “raise kids” but who worked hard to raise children. Instead of running with my initial idea for this article, the Holy Spirit convinced me to slow down and lean into the advice and stories others who had gone before me had to share. I hope to highlight some of these over my next few articles.

One contributor wrote: 

“My mom always said we could ‘come back home’ (if needed of course). I never needed to, so it always went over my head. But my brother needed to go back home often over the years: mental health, health problems, homelessness, etc... My brother died last year; he was fifty years old. I don’t think my mom ever regretted letting him ‘come back home’ when he needed it… At a lot of lows throughout my brother’s life, not only did my mom make sure she had a physical home for us, but she is also our home.” 

This story that was shared with me is a real-life picture of the prodigal son who lived out in parenthood. If you aren’t familiar with that story, it goes something like this: 

A man with two sons was approached by the younger child, who asked for his inheritance early, which wasn’t totally uncommon for this time period. It could happen. The father, allowing his child to live his life and giving him free will, handed the money over, and the son squandered all of it. That, along with a famine, left the son with nothing: No money, no home, and no family.

As he began to come to his senses, he remembered his father’s love and goodness. He made a plan, got up, and headed home. He had planned to beg for his father’s forgiveness and offer his service to the household; but while the son was far off in the distance, the father saw him and “was filled with compassion.” He ran towards his son, embracing him and kissing him. He was so excited, he threw a celebration! The story continues in Luke 15:11-32, but if this isn’t a picture of the Father’s love for us, I don’t know what is. 

As a believer, I am so thankful that I can always return home to my Heavenly Father through repentance when I mess up and fail. However, I was inspired by this contributor’s mother who emulated grace and love in a very unconditional way. It’s a beautiful way to strive to love our children to not only make them feel safe, but to also live out the vision of the Gospel to them personally. 

I may not have written about a Titus 2 woman directly, but I did. It was this contributor's mother, and I am sure so many other mothers, who modeled love and grace in a way that many struggle with. Hurt, anger, and disappointment aside, the love was there. The grace overflowed, and the door remained open for a return if and when rock-bottom happened. 

I recently heard a line that read something like this: "We can't protect our children from their testimony." It's true, but we can love them as the Father loves us especially when they hit the low places of life. We can drop to our knees and intercede on their behalf, begging the Father for their return home and most importantly, their return home to Him: their Salvation in Christ Jesus. The best news is that if we haven't started yet, there's still time, regardless of our child's age, marital status, and location.  

Y'all, we serve a good, good God, and as parents, which is one of the most honorable jobs we will ever have, we need to love and model good, forgiving, and healthy love to our children, just as God loves His.