When You Love a Prodigal

I have been on a long, slow journey to a grateful heart. Our son put that journey in overdrive. In the long 15 years of wilderness with him, there were so many hard times, days and nights, scary choices, dangerous activities that I had many opportunities to practice giving thanks to our God. Here we are at Thanksgiving. Is it possible to be truly grateful on this day set aside to give thanks?  And...

If you love a prodigal, you probably have a horror story to tell of a holiday with that loved wanderer. I certainly do, and so does Dena Yohe, co-founder of Hope for Hurting Parents, and parent of Renee, the subject of the famous To Write Love on Her Arms. We had a fun, tearful and helpful conversation for today’s episode. Join us as we tell our stories and get from Dena some very practical help f...

Our son Josh, the former prodigal, is a part-time farmer. For a while that included raising sheep. He had a sheep pasture and a sheep pen: overnight in the pen, days in the pasture. Because he and his wife both were away at day jobs, they acquired a guard dog. The Anatolian Shepherd was bred as a livestock guard dog. The farm was in a wildlife area, and the dog did his job protecting the sheep fro...

“Jeedoo, it’s dark,” My grandson was spending the night. He whimpered, “I’m afraid of the dark.” After a few reassurances and a night light, he went back to sleep. I understand. I’m still a little afraid of the dark too. I am grateful that “the people living in darkness have seen a great light.” That light is Jesus. Resources: Read Be the Light! https://bit.ly/3gWQH4U Join the Prayer for Prodigals...

In many parts of the world, bread is a staple. Even if you have little else, you have to have bread. In John 6 we read the story of Jesus multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish into an abundance that fed some 5,000 men and also the women and children who were with them. With 12 baskets of leftovers. The next day the people thronged to him. He said to them, “…you are looking for me, not beca...

Prayer is your first and best response. Prayer is a major way we love and care for and seek to draw our prodigals—our children, adult children, a spouse, a relative, whoever our prodigal is-- back to God, to us, to good life choices. Today we have a special guest who is providing great help for parents. She isn’t waiting till they become prodigals to seek to influence them through prayer, and her...

Let me tell you a story. As our son continued to live with us during his roller coaster early 20’s—sometimes making good choices, more often not, we set some clear boundaries. Summarizing: He needed to respect us and our home and our values, and be a contributing member of the family. After several months of not abiding by these boundaries, his father said he needed to find a job and a place to li...

I have always been amazed at the idolatry of the children of Israel throughout the Old Testament. I was sure I could never worship an idol. Until I discovered I had serious idolatry problems. The prophet Isaiah repeatedly mocks them for carving idols to worship out of half a log, and cooking dinner with the other half.  How could anyone think that “god” could save them? Resources: A Problem with I...

Often it has seemed like my (working hard to not be a) prodigal is under a curse. Actually, I think he is. Bad things happened to him in his first years. Later most of the bad things in his life were his own bad choices. He still experiences consequences from those bad choices. But then he sought to turn his life around. Yet it seemed that every day something happened to distract or detour or depr...

When your children become adults–by age, or leaving home–your role in their lives changes. This is usually challenging to navigate, but especially so when your young adult is a prodigal. Mary DeMuth, author of 46 books, literary agent, podcaster, artist, is the parent of three young adults. She has written a profound and helpful book for this journey: Love, Pray, Listen . In today's episode–a conv...

We have considered some very different contributors to turning from the Lord–rejecting  family, making dangerous choices. Today we look at how we can make a difference with our words. One time I was so angry at my son I almost said, “Just don’t bother to come home.” Gratefully I caught myself, and tried a better approach. Our words matter. Resources: Read Words of My Life: Gentle https://bit.ly/3x...

On my back porch in California, our cat had her brand-new kittens secluded in a corner. But not hidden from the eagle eye of a soaring eagle. When Mama cat headed to a needed break from her demanding babies, the eagle dropped in, clutched a kitten in each talon and soared off to her nest. Why do I tell such a terrible story?  Because our world is full of danger, for kittens, for you and me, and es...

From the day I was born, I wanted my own way. Growing up, my getting my way pretty much determined the peace and happiness in our home. As a teenager, getting my own way included secretly seeing a forbidden boyfriend for most of a year and other things. Do you identify? Don’t most of us want our own way? Why? Today we look at Part 2 of a series on why they become prodigals. Resources: Read: Growin...

Probably the most frequent question I get asked is Why? Why is my child making these bad choices? Why has my loved one disappeared from my life? We raised her right—why is she living the way she is? Today is the first of four parts on why someone makes the choices they do. And often break our hearts in the process. Resources: Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here: https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ Sig...

Awaken the Wonder and Kingdom Encounters are the names Evangelist Caleb Wampler uses in his ministry. I love both concepts. Letting God lead you into Kingdom Encounters on a regular basis will surely Awaken the Wonder in your life as you experience the love, mercy, grace and power of God. In our conversation he shares how this can be a normal part of our lives—something everyone who loves a prodig...

Today, celebrating 50 episodes of When You Love a Prodigal, Josh—the prodigal in Judy’s story—tells his own story. In an honest, sometimes teary, tender and hopeful conversation, Josh and Judy walk through his life—from the addictions of his birth mother, being thrust into the Douglass family as a foster and later adopted son, lots of wrong friends and wrong choices . . . . Listen in to hear the r...

SUMMER BREAK REPLAY I learned a little about sheep during my farmer son’s brief stint raising sheep. Sheep had some positives—they reduced the need to mow the pasture. And the variety they were raising provided much-desired wool. But sheep required a lot of care. And they attracted predators. But oh, the baby lambs. In my favorite picture of our son, he is tenderly holding a newborn lamb. Shepherd...

We are called to love like Jesus—unconditionally. Is it even possible to love a prodigal unconditionally? What is unconditional love? They challenge, betray, defy and deny our love. How do we keep loving them? Today’s episode is Part 1 of some practical ways we can live out loving them as Jesus has loved us. Resources: Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here:  https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ Sign up f...

I have a painting of a sheep on a narrow mountain ledge, with a shepherd—in this case Jesus—reaching down to pull him to safety. This picture of Jesus rescuing the lost sheep is a perfect image for those of us who love a prodigal. Sometimes, too often, someone we love becomes that lost sheep, wandering on a precarious path. We do our best to guide, protect and rescue, but we don’t always succeed....

Love is more than a word. Love is a verb. If you have been listening to these podcasts, you know our prodigal was a boy God sent to us at age 10. Knowing all the struggles he—and we–had, you might say that we truly loved this boy. We provided for his needs, encouraged his growth and development, introduced him to life-expanding people and opportunities, and spent time with him. But he didn’t belie...

“This is hopeless! I’m done. There’s nothing more I can do.” Have you ever said these words? Or at least felt them?  Today in our second look at Treasures in the Wilderness we will consider holding on, keeping on, persevering, not giving up—truly a gift from God. Resources: Read:  Never Give Up https://bit.ly/3R7t1J4 Join the Prayer for Prodigals community here:  https://bit.ly/3uyhSWQ Sign up for...

When you are navigating the wilderness of a prodigal journey, you probably aren’t expecting to find treasure. But if you keep your eyes and mind and heart open, you will be amazed at the many treasures hidden in this challenging journey. And the one we discover today will enable you to find the rest. Resources: Read: God Is Always Working https://bit.ly/3HO5Q1Y Join the Prayer for Prodigals commun...

Living with and loving a prodigal can be so confusing and frustrating, sometimes especially for a dad. You don’t know what to do, how to handle unacceptable behavior, who can help you. Tom Yohe joins us today, bringing wisdom from years of walking with a prodigal. He and his wife, Dena, have developed resources to help hurting parents with effective approaches and real hope, and founded Hope for H...

Today we have a special guest. Dana Russo is a long-time friend of mine. She has made beautiful music for large and small audiences. And she has turned loss and grief in her own life into a powerful, compassionate ministry to others—to people like you and me who love a prodigal. Dana founded HOPE RISES ( hope-rises.com ) to companion others in grief and provide much needed education in our mournin...

On Prodigal Prayer Day we prayed for all those names on the list of treasured prodigals, as well as our own beloved wanderers. What a privilege! And what a battle! I am always exhausted at the end of the day. We—and those we pray for—have an enemy who doesn’t like that we are on our knees on their behalf. So what do we do now that we have prayed?   Resources: After we pray: https://bit.ly/3xeQH6h...