Jenny was tired of her life in her teenage years itself. A dad who is old fashioned in his thinking …  and Jenny who wanted to enjoy the freedom and fun of modern lifestyle. So, one day she told her Dad, ‘Daddy, I hate you. In this house I have no freedom to do anything’.  And then one day, without informing anyone, Jenny left her house in Michigan Traverse, and travelled to the distant city called Detroit. She had only one aim, to enjoy life. 

Two days after she reached Detroit, she got acquainted with a man whom she called ‘The Boss’. He was the leader of a drug chain. Jenny found this newfound life thrilling … lots of friends, parties, fun …  The year passed very quickly. Soon her health deteriorated … a severe cough bothered her …. and The Boss told her, ‘Vacate the house soon’. With no one to turn to, Jenny spent the severely cold night on the veranda of a departmental store. Suddenly she recalled the time when she used to drive around in her dad’s car through their cherry orchard in Michigan. She thought, ‘Here I am shivering and trembling in this biting cold … in my Daddy’s house even the pet dog lives in great comfort.’ Her eyes began to water, as she was overcome with sorrow and remorse. 

She remembered that in one of the stores she had been to, she had seen a poster in a newspaper with her picture and the caption, ‘Have you see this child?’ She hastened to the nearby telephone booth and called home, but no one answered. So, she left a message in the answering machine three times saying, ‘Mum and Dad, this is Jenny. At midnight tomorrow I will arrive at the Michigan Traverse bus stop. If you would like to receive me, please wait for me at the bus stop. If I don’t see you, I will continue on the journey to Canada.

It was a journey of several long hours to Michigan Traverse, and Jenny was tired. She was now drawing closer to her home state … in just 15 minutes she would know what direction her life would take ...  her heart was beating faster and faster every moment. Traverse City … the conductor’s voice resounded!!! Past midnight … she got out of the bus slowly … and there she saw a large banner which read, “Welcome Home!” Around 40 family members were waiting to receive her. Her dad came running … ‘Daughter … he hugged and kissed her. “Daddy, I have been wrong, please forgive me …. Her dad did not let her complete the words of apology she had rehearsed so many times. “Daughter, come, let us go home quickly, I have prepared a great feast for you. Today is a day of rejoicing”.

This is not the story of Jenny alone. Jesus narrated the story of the prodigal son who returned to his father. It’s the story of you and I …. a true story …. someone said it’s the story of a prodigal father who squandered his love upon his disobedient son. Thank You Lord, Abba Father, thank You … for everything.

 

Courtesy - What Is So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey