What if the Prodigal Son is a girl?

There are so many stories in the Bible.  While I learned many of these when I was growing up, some 

I learned some in the last fifteen years.  Then there are those that I have heard over and over again. I know alot of them, and I know enough about some of them to know when something in the story has been changed.  

For instance, if you told me that it was David in the lion's den, I would argue the point because I know I can prove that it was Daniel.  If you told me Isaac was Abraham's first son, I would argue that as well because we all know his firstborn was Ishmael.

With that said, if you told me that the prodigal child was a girl I would dispute that as well.  Unless of course you were talking with my parents.  While God's word clearly says that the prodigal was a "son" [Luke 15:11-32], my parents had a prodigal girl.

You see, when I was at the ripe age of 27, I thought I knew it all.  I was in the midst in one of the largest organizations that gave me the authority to stop criminal behavior.  I was incarcerating thieves, murders, and burglars.  I was helping citizens to retain their property or making someone who took it-pay for it.  

I was loving my job and loving life.  Unlike my friend Mark Corona, I did not struggle with honoring God in patrol.  Although I was raised a Christian, I did not know enough about a "relationship with Christ" to honor Him.  

My idea of honoring God was to stand next to a jukebox singing Losing My Religion by REM hoping I didn't lose my soul.   I set out to live my life like I had never before been allowed to do.  I worked long hours and played long hours.  If any of my "today" friends could have seen me, they would not recognize me.  

While I did not take any worldly belongings from my parents and blow it like the prodigal son, I did live life to the extreme.  I loved it and no one could tell me different.  Yes I lived high and mighty, yes I flaunted material possessions, yes I hung with the best of them but like the prodigal son, it all came to an end.  

I must say I never ate leftovers from a troth but I was committing the same sins as those I was arresting.  I was stealing time from God, I was killing my spirit that longed for acceptance that could only be found in Him, and I was taking things like attention, that belonged to someone else.  I was no better than the thieves, murders and burglars. 

If you know the story of the prodigal son then you know that when he was on empty, he opted to come home.  He felt that being a servant in his fathers home was better than living life on the street.  He was down to nothing....He was empty.  

I know that feeling.  I was that kid.  I was the prodigal son-but a girl.  

It was my mother that once told me "if you shame your father, you will break his heart."  Being a daddy's girl all my life, the last thing I wanted to do was shame my father.  I immediately cried out to my heavenly Father and asked for forgiveness then I went to my earthly father.  

As I suspected, he welcomed me home [to the family of Christ] with open arms and gratitude.  God had answered his prayer.  Another prodigal had come home, but this time it was his girl!

Jesus continued "There was a man who had two sons.  The younger one said to his father 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them."  Not long after that the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.... when he came to his senses, he said "How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare and here I am starving to death!" ...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.  The son said to him "Father I have sinned against heaven and you I am no longer worthy to be called your son.  But the father said "...this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." Let's celebrate.  Luke 15: 11-24

To parents: Never give up! Keep praying for your children and that child.  We serve a mighty God who has no boundaries.  

Taking God on Patrol by Mark S Caronna can be found at Amazon.com