The knot tightened in Nick’s stomach with every passing mile. When the captain announced they were about to land, Nick drew in a shaky breath. He hadn’t been home since the beginning of the semester, not even for Thanksgiving. He’d made some excuse about needing to work on projects, but the truth was, he didn’t know where he belonged anymore.

            The semester had been wonderful and terrible all at once. College was a great experience, but the guilt and shame he felt at the way he’d been living weighed him down. He’d been raised better than this. He never called home, rarely answered his parents’ calls and texts, and certainly never attended church while he was out there. And now, with his abysmal GPA, he was on academic probation. If he didn’t dramatically improve his grades next semester, he’d lose his scholarship.

            The plane touched down, and Nick’s breathing quickened. Would his parents even want to see him? Yes, his mom had texted him this morning telling him she couldn’t wait, but surely she’d be able to tell by his face what a screw up he’d been. Girls, beer, parties… He’d wasted his entire semester doing things he shouldn’t be doing. The guilt threatened to eat him up alive.

            As he exited the plane and made his way toward baggage claim, he heard his name. Sure enough, as soon as he got out of the secure area, there were his parents. They ran toward him and wrapped their arms around him. Mom’s eyes glistened with tears, and Dad thumped him on the back.

            “Oh, Nicolas, we missed you so much. It’s so wonderful to see you again.”

            Nick swallowed against the lump that formed in his throat. If they only knew what his semester had been like, they wouldn’t be this welcoming.

            Mom pulled back and smoothed his hair from his forehead, just like she’d used to do when he was little. “There’s a prayer service at church this evening. If we go have dinner now, we shouldn’t have any trouble making it. Everyone will be anxious to see you.”

            Nick’s pulse thudded in his ears. “I’m not sure I’m ready for church. It was a long flight and I’m a little tired.” In reality, he was more concerned with getting struck with lightning after walking into the church than he was with taking a nap.

            Mom’s eyes clouded, but Dad’s remained fixed on Nick’s. “I’m sure you’ll perk up after you get a good meal into you. The service doesn’t start until seven, so we have plenty of time.” They made their way to the baggage carousel and Dad grabbed Nick’s suitcase while Mom clung to Nick’s arm, as if afraid he’d disappear again.

            When they reached home, the familiar smells, sights, and sounds filled Nick with comfort.

            Mom grinned at him as they entered the kitchen. “I have beef stew in the crockpot, and we’re having caramel truffle brownies for dessert.”

            The guilt rose like bile in his throat. Mom made his favorites. Things he didn’t deserve. He had to tell them. Before he opened his mouth to speak, Mom held up a hand. “No need to thank me. I’m just glad you’re home. Take your bag upstairs and tell Karl to come down to eat.”

            Nick inwardly groaned. Karl. His perfect big brother. Still, he smiled at Mom and headed upstairs to find Karl on his way down.

            “Oh hey, you’re back. Wasn’t sure you’d want to come back, not with all the partying you’ve been doing.”

            Nick’s pulse shot up. How could Karl know what he’d been up to?

            Karl must have read it in his face. “Guess you forgot about the app on your phone. Your location is there for everyone to see. Out till all hours of the night at bars, and never once out of your dorm room before noon on the weekend. Never made to church all semester, did you? And how many of your classes did you skip?”

            Nick stared at Karl. “You’ve been spying on me?” Anger bubbled up inside him.

            Karl shrugged. “Thought it was good for Mom and Dad to know what kind of person you really are when they’re not around.”

            The anger dissipated, and the shame once more washed over him. “Wait, they know?”

            Karl frowned. “Yeah, they know. They’ve been praying for you every day since you left. Way to go, breaking their hearts like that.” Karl made his way downstairs, leaving Nick to process everything he’d heard. His parents knew he’d been skipping classes, going to bars, and not attending church. Yet they welcomed him home with open arms and made all his favorite foods. He didn’t deserve this. He sank onto the edge of his bed and held his head in his hands. A moment later, he sensed movement. He glanced up to find Dad leaning on the doorframe.

            “Nick, your mother went to a lot of trouble to make your favorites. Come on down and enjoy dinner with us.”

            Nick couldn’t meet his father’s eyes. “Dad, I don’t deserve..”

            “Of course you don’t. And you don’t deserve to be saved by God, either. But He loves you, and we love you. And if you swallow your pride and go downstairs, you’ll be able to see it.”

            After what was probably the tastiest meal of his life. Nick followed the others into the car as they headed to the evening service. Nick’s palms started to sweat. But as he entered the building, the sweet streams of worship music calmed his soul. And when the preacher started reading the story of the prodigal son from the book of Luke, Nick couldn’t help the tears that streamed down his face. He was loved, he was accepted, he was home.

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. 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.

 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Dear God, thank You so much for the story of the prodigal son. We’ve all fallen away from You at some part in our lives. Thank You for never giving up on us, for loving us in spite of our disobedience. What a wonderful picture it is to think of You waiting for us to come home so you can shower us with Your precious love. Please help us appreciate what You’ve given to us and not squander it. Help us be examples of acceptance and forgiveness to others who have walked away. In Jesus name, Amen.