When parents love their children, they are willing to do anything for them. It seems to happen, however, that children seldom realize how deep their parents’ love is for them. Both sons in Jesus’ parable today failed to understand their father’s love. Neither comprehended that his devotion to them precisely as his sons could never change, no matter what. The father could not even imagine altering his relationship with his sons. For stance, when the younger son (known as the prodigal son) realized his folly, he prepared a little speech to give to his father. In it he would recognize that he was no longer worthy to be called a son, the he would become a hired hand. When he arrived back home and attempted to give his speech, the father would have none of it. He threw his arms around the young man, kissed him, and called for a celebration. He rejoiced that his son is back and well received as the part of the family. The older son we somewhat sympathize with. After all, he had not left home but had continued to work dutifully for his father. He refused to join the party for his younger brother, and the reason he gave for his refusal revealed that he too had failed to understand his relationship with his father. He thought of himself as “slaving” for his father with an expectation of a reward. He was not serving his father out of love. The father responded, “You are with me always and everything I have is yours.” Even when the older son refused to come into the house for the celebration, the father went out to him and pleaded with him. Even more remarkable is God our Father. To begin to understand and appreciate our God, we must remember who we are. We are children of God, his beloved sons and daughters. God will never change his loving relationship with us, even if we abandon him. No matter how foolish we may be in life, no matter how far we may wander from God, our Father reaches out to us by his grace.