Maria kicked a beer can down the sidewalk. Rubbish lined the street in front of her miserable excuse for an apartment. How did she end up here? If only she had listened to her father instead of Lorenzo. Oh, Lorenzo. Such a charmer. But in the end, her father had been right. Lorenzo wasn’t the kind to stick around when things got hard. No, once her savings were gone, so was he. And now she had nothing. Quitting school to run off with him seemed so romantic at the time. It turned out to be the worst decision of her life.

She jammed the key in the flimsy lock and pushed the door open. Another long day on her feet making barely enough money to cover rent and groceries. How would she ever get ahead? She flopped on the mattress and closed her eyes. Was God still out there? Did He even see her anymore?

“God, I know I messed up. I also know You are a God of love and forgiveness. I can’t do this on my own anymore.”

Her father’s face flashed before her eyes as it had so many times before. It would be so easy to call him. How many nights had she spent on this mattress, holding her phone in her hands, his contact info open in front of her? Too many to count. But it was too late now. His last words still rang in her ears.

“If you run off with this guy, don’t ever come back here again.”

Fresh tears dripped down her cheeks. He was a good father. She’d had a good life and she’d thrown it all away. She pulled the threadbare blanket up to her chest and scrolled through the pictures on her phone. It felt like a lifetime ago. Her home, her neighborhood, her friends.

“God, I miss Dad so much. I need help.”

Maria jumped when the phone rang in her hand. Dad’s picture lit the screen. Had she accidentally dialed him? Heart pounding, she stared at the phone. He was calling her? It was too good to be true. She connected the call with trembling hands.

“Dad?”

“Maria, sweetheart, is it really you?” His voice cracked. “Are you OK?”

“I’m OK.”

He breathed out a sigh. “I didn’t think you’d answer. Thank you for picking up. I wanted to tell you I’m sorry. I miss you terribly. I made a mistake. You can be with whomever you choose. I just want you back in my life.”

Maria couldn’t hold back the sobs. After a few minutes, she regained her composure, wiped her eyes, and blew her nose.

“Dad, I miss you so much. Can I come home?”

“Whenever you want.”

Maria’s voice was barely a whisper. “Tonight?”

“Of course.”

Maria hung up the phone, packed her few belongings in a duffel bag and spent her last twenty on bus fare. Three hours later, emotionally spent, she raised her hand to knock on what used to be her front door, but before she could knock, the door flew open and she found herself swallowed up in her father’s arms.

After the best night’s sleep she’d had in two years, Maria entered the kitchen to find her father making pancakes, just like he had when she was a little girl. They enjoyed their breakfast together as if not a day had gone by.

“Tell me,” Maria said. “What made you decide to call me last night? I was so desperate and alone. I prayed to God for help, but I didn’t think He was listening to me anymore.”

“He was listening,” her father said. “He sent me the message through one of his angels. She showed up with a tray of chocolate chip cookies.”

Luke 15:11-19

 “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.  After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“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! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’So he got up and went to his father.

 “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.  After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“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! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 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.”

Lord, when we are far from You, we find such comfort in knowing You long for us to return home. Thank You for loving us when we are unlovable, for delighting in us simply because we are Your children. Even when our earthly parents or children fail us, You never will. Thank You for Your unfailing love and faithfulness. In Jesus  name, Amen.