Always Received With Open Arms

I was recently reading the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15: 11-32. Christ is telling the story to the pharisees of a young man who demands his inheritance from his father. The young man goes out into the world and wastes away his inheritance. At that time in the land there was a famine and the only work the young man could find was to feed the pigs of a "citizin of that country", and all he had to eat was pig feed. The young man knew that even his father's servants were fed and clothed better than him. He resolved to go home, and be a servant to his father, but when his father saw him from afar off he "ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." His father called for a feast and had his son dressed in the finest robes. The older son was confused, and angry as to why his younger brother was being treated so well, when he had done so much to hurt the family. The father responded to the bittered questions of his son and said: "It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."

Our Heavenly Father likewise is waiting to receive us with open arms. We all make mistakes, and are all lost at some point, but we can always come home. It has always been a comfort to me that I have a Heavenly father that loves me enough to always welcome me home when I am lost. His love is extended toward all of us who are willing to travel the road back to him.