The
older brother in Jesus' story of the prodigal son could not accept his father's
determination to integrate his wayward brother back into the family. This
unglued his equilibrium to the degree that frustration, anger, and disbelief replaced
the tranquility he knew when his brother was out of the picture.
The older brother had trouble
accepting that his younger brother had a different personality and needed to
live on the edge of discovery. Their father supported the fact that his sons were different - one adventurous
and immature, the other choosing to stay close to home and run the family
business. Children need parents who respect differences and encourage them to pursue
ambitions equivalent to their skills.
God's grace and mercy allow for
mistakes and failure, as seen in both the younger and older sons. Unforgiven anger
and unforgivable failure in ourselves or in others is the pathway to heartache and hardship.
God requires that we forgive others, as he has forgiven us. This is clearly the
pathway to inner peace.
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