Excellent post.speedsix wrote:...of course you're right...but the father didn't go chasing after him out in the far lands...but stayed home being who he was...doing what he did...but spent time looking for the boy to return...and, one day, saw him coming "afar off", hiked up his stately robes, and ran down the road to meet him, wildly welcoming him home...
...by feeling as that father did...and reacting as that father did, once the son learned his lessons, the son ran for home...a condemning and hateful attitude when the boy left would have changed the story...
...we should stick to our principles, not condoning the wrong...but not condemning the prodigal...always communicating the father's love...which will usually draw them back home when they do wake up...
Added in Edit: This learned from my own rebellious spirit. 17 is the age of consent in Texas, you can move out, you can quit school, you can cohabitate. But they are in a limbo by this, you cannot enter into a contract (unless emancipated or co-signed), you cannot drink or vote. But you sure can burn bridges.