When You Love a Prodigal

Last week we talked about four gifts God gives us during our prodigal journey—gifts that sustain and equip us for all the challenges. Did one of those gifts—God Himself, love, mercy, or grace--bless, encourage, or help you? Today we are going to talk about four more gifts our gracious God offers us—valuable resources on our journey to help us with our loved ones and to appreciate the good-work our...

For our previous two episodes we explored the hard reality of the grief that comes with walking with a challenging child for months and years. I hope you captured some perspective and practice for your grief journey. This week and next I have gifts for you—gifts from God that will give you what you need for all the twists and turns of your odyssey. If you choose to accept these gifts, you can face...

Grief is a normal part of life. Disappointments, losses, hard situations come, and grief is often a part of those. But when you love a prodigal, grief can become an ongoing reality as the journey goes on and on. The hardest part of our journey lasted about 15 years. Grief was ever present, but so was God. Today I want to share with you some of the ways God met me and sustained me and even freed me...

If you have been journeying in the prodigal journey for a long time, or if your journey is just beginning, you will experience many emotions: fear, anger, frustration, resentment, guilt and more. And at some time you will recognize an overriding emotion: grief. This week and next we will acknowledge the grief we experience as we walk through life with a broken heart—and some ways to live through i...

Sometimes I think it’s good to let you listen to another voice. The one you will hear from today is Gary Wilkerson, head of World Challenge Ministry, following in the footsteps of his father, David Wilkerson, author of The Cross and the Switchblade and founder of the Times. Gary is a pastor in Colorado Springs. When my book When You Love a Prodigal first came out, he had me on his podcast. He has...

I imagine, if you listened to the past two episodes on ambiguous loss, you’ve done some challenging thinking about your own challenges and losses. Today will be an encouraging time, I believe. You will hear a recording from me, a message I gave at Christian Leadership Alliance about the transformation God did in me over the years of our prodigal journey. Judy’s Resources: Read Way-of-Life Practice...

Last week, we heard Pat and Tammy McLeod's heartbreaking story of their son's brain damaging football accident, and the so hard journey of great loss. This week we hear them again, telling of help and hope, of living with their son who was both there and not there.  Though their situation may not be like yours, they offer us real, hard life and new perspectives and practices. And even a littl...

Perhaps your loved one is gone, through suicide or overdose or a terrible accident, or gone from your presence by their own choice. Today we are hearing a heartbreaking story of a young man with a traumatic brain injury, who lived. He is severely impacted, but he is still with his family. Pat and Tammy McLeod will be with us this week and next week, vulnerably sharing their story of walking throug...

Jesus said some radical things about love. Then He commanded us to do the impossible: to love others just as He loved us—which He defined as “laying down His life for us.” He said love would make this happen: Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.  And then: Do everything in love.    Jesus says it’s possible. Judy’s Resources: Read Loving a Prodigal:...

God is clear: We must forgive. And we must ask for forgiveness. Forgiveness is an essential garment in our wardrobe as a child of God. Surely Peter thought he was being magnanimous in suggesting he would forgive someone seven times. But Jesus responded in Matthew 18:22, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Some of our prodigals might need to be forgiven 77 times—or even more. Jud...

Patience is a challenge for most of us—in general, but especially when you love a prodigal. These definitions might help a little: the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with a late flight. q...

If we could relate to our wanderers as Jesus would have, we just might see a difference in the atmosphere in our home and relationship. We have already considered compassion, kindness and humility. Surely, as we exhibit those qualities of Jesus, we could anticipate more peace and positive connection with our prodigals. Today we take up gentleness. Harsh. Angry. Strident. Contentious. We can easily...

Do you have a blended family? Have the challenges of finding harmony as you put new moms and dads and kids together been difficult? Our guest today, Ron Deal, brings years of experience that will be just the help you need. And will give any of us with a prodigal practical ideas for relating to your loved ones. Ron’s Resources: Website: www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/ 8-sessi...

My husband was a hard-working man. Our prodigal, in his younger years was not. One day my husband came home and our son was sitting on my car watching his friends work on his car. My husband’s response was, “Can’t you help them fix your car, or at least learn from them. You’re just sitting watching them work.” My husband rarely got angry, but he did that day. He came and sat down to talk to God ab...

Kindness seems all the rage these days. Random Acts of Kindness get designated days and weeks of intention. Videos showing how one kind act leads to another go viral. Stories on the goodness of one person that changes the life of another garner Likes and Hearts and shares on social media. The harsh uncertainties of today’s violent world create yearnings for safety, for peace, for harmony. We hunge...

Let’s start this new year off with a look at what God might want to do in our lives through this prodigal journey. If you have been listening to this podcast for very long, you have heard me say that God is just as committed to working in us as He is in our prodigals. He cares about our loved ones, but He also cares about us. A primary purpose He has is to make us more and more like Jesus. I am gr...

The When You Love a Prodigal podcast is part of a group of resources for people who love a prodigal. First came the Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day every June 2, which was soon accompanied by the Prayer for Prodigals secure, online community for sharing and praying for requests. My book, When You Love a Prodigal: 90 Days of Grace for the Wilderness, was published four years ago, and now the podcast....

A new year lifts us up, shaking off the remnants of last year’s mistakes, opening a panorama of a better future. We love to leave the hurts and failures of yesterday, believing that tomorrow is filled with sunshine and promise. Except, when you love a prodigal. Too often fears win out. You hope, but you dare not “get your hopes up.” You dream, hoping it doesn’t once again become a nightmare. You b...

So we celebrated Christmas—and I hope you received gifts you appreciate and even treasure. Perhaps even a reunion, or a restoration, or some sweet times with your prodigal. And, of course, we celebrated the most amazing gift God has given to us: the gift of Jesus. Jesus is surely the gift that keeps on giving. Let’s consider what gifts we have received in Jesus. Be assured, our God loves to celebr...

As you wrap up your Christmas shopping and wrapping, perhaps you would want to think of some gifts for Jesus. After all, it is His birthday we are celebrating. I like to consider what Jesus might like from me as a birthday gift. I’ve thought of several things—I know He would appreciate these gifts from you as well. Judy’s Resources: Music for the Hard Times Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playli...

When you love a prodigal, you know you are in a battle. My friend and guest today, Tami Winkelman, will help us in that fight—on our knees. She has a book all about your weapons--365 Promises, Praises, and Prayers. Plus Tami and I have a lively conversation. You will find her helpful, refreshing, and encouraging. Tami’s Resources: Tami’s website: https://prayer-for-prodigals.com Facebook: https://...

My prodigal seldom had money to buy Christmas gifts, so usually I got something I wanted and let him give it to me. As he moved into his teens, and he still rarely had any money, I began to say, “All I want for Christmas is…” something I hoped would happen in his life. Over the years I requested some treasured gifts from him. Judy’s Resources: Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://...

This is the third episode of a three-part series on Prayer that Opens Doors. We looked at Praise first, then Thanks last week. And today we consider a powerful key that can open tightly shut doors—and minds and hearts. When someone near you sneezes, do you, or does someone nearby say, “God bless you”? It happens often, doesn’t it. Do you hear or say “God bless you” any other time? Not too often, I...

The pattern has been the same with all my grandkids. Whenever someone does something for a child, the parent says, “What do you say?” The correct answer, of course, is “Thank you.” We humans aren’t naturally grateful and it takes years of training for us to remember to say “Thank you” when someone is kind or helpful or generous to us. God has observed the same reality. He felt it was necessary to...

The key was in the lock box. I had the code. But my normal inability to decipher how things work prevailed. My husband quickly figured it out. But the lock on the door seemed obstinate, and it took several tries to actually unlock the door to the lovely mountain cabin we were staying in for a week. Too often, that’s how it is with events and relationships and opportunities in our lives: Unlocking...