You will love Prayers for Parents of Prodigals by Linda Clare!

I read a post on Facebook by Linda Clare and knew I must have her book, Prayers for Parents of Prodigals. It was as simple as that. A woman who had that much wisdom was surely a woman who could write a book that I wanted to read. I instantly connected with her and with this book of prayers.

I have many similar books, but I feel so many of the same feelings as Linda had, as I read prayers with headings such as:

Broken Heart, Broken Parent

Through the Valley

Promises, Promises

Baby Steps

Shine Bright

Love You Forever…and more.

I read a few every morning and now already am on my second time of reading this book. I have several prayer and devotional books that I use every day and I can foresee this book as being one of those.

For some reason I thought that this book was written many years ago and I just missed it, but seeing it was released during the pandemic, I’m sure it didn’t get the publicity it deserved. I’m a big fan, now, of Linda Clare. You will be, too!

Donna Collins Tinsley

 

 

Come Home

When someone is missing from your life, whether they ran away, are in prison, have been abducted or have chosen to take a time apart from you, sometimes the thoughts can be unbearable. 


You may think about the good times or the times that they were a child and all was well. You may think about the dangers out in the world and pray that they are safe.


You may think about your relationship and all those things you think you “coulda, woulda and shoulda” done along life’s way. 


You may just want to have them back to have a big hug.


Then you might want to shake them and ask how they could hurt you and perhaps themselves this way?


If they are away through no fault of their own, you accept the sympathy of people. If they chose to leave, perhaps in a moment of immaturity, it might be embarrassing. 


Right now, I’m thinking of a family who is facing a funeral of a wonderful young son, who pretty much was the “all American boy” taken from the world, we feel, much too soon. I think how this young man’s family had every hope of seeing their son live a long life, He was not foolishly trying to go out on his own too soon. He was doing the everyday things of life that his family did when tragedy occurred. I feel such compassion for the family who will now have to find a “new normal” for their life. I have no words for their pain, only prayers for the comfort of the Lord.


I pray our boy comes home. I pray that he is not in an accident or not with people who aren’t thinking of his best interest. I pray that he doesn’t zone out in a way that things in his life can’t be redeemed. Yes, the Lord is on the move, even when it seems crazy in our lives. HE KNOWS WHERE OUR PRODIGAL IS.


The Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting and His truth endures for all generations. 


So, Isaiah, this one’s for you.  Come home. Come back and let your light shine. Come back and quote that beautiful passage of Shakespeare that you knew and spoke so beautifully. Come back and remember the 23^rd Psalm and Lord’s prayer we used to say together. Come back and eat Chipotle with your sister. Come back and endure hardship with those who love you. Man up! Come back and learn what it means to be a man upon this earth. Come back before Mathis forgets you.  Just come back. You are loved.

 Jesus looked hard at them and said, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.” Matthew 19:26 The Message