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The Story of the Prodigal Father A
certain man had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, “Father,
give me the portion of thy time, the attention, and companionship, and thy
counsel which falleth to me.” And
he divided unto him his living in that he paid the boys bills and sent him to a
select preparatory school,…and to college, and tried to believe that he was
doing his full duty by the boy. And
not many days after, the father gathered all his interests and aspirations and
ambitions and took his journey into a far country, into a line of stocks and
bonds and securities and other things which do not interest a boy; and there he
wasted his precious opportunity of being a chum to his own son. And
when he had spent the very best of his life, and had gained money but had failed
to find satisfaction, there arose a mighty famine in his heart; and he began to
be in want of sympathy and real companionship. And he went and joined
himself to one of the clubs of that country and they elected him chairman of the
house committee and president of the club and sent him to Congress, and he would
fain have satisfied himself with the husks that other men did eat, and no man
gave unto him any real friendship. instead
of running and falling on his neck, he drew back and was
ill at ease. And
the father said unto him, “Son, I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy
sight! I am no more worthy to be called thy father. Forgive me now and let me be
your friend.” But
the son said, “Not so, I wish it was possible, but it is too late. There was a
time when I wanted to know things when I wanted companionship and counsel, but
you were too busy; I got the information, and I get the companionship but I got
the wrong kind; and now, alas, I am wrecked in soul and body, and there is
nothing you can do for me. It is too late, too late, too late.” – taken from
the Van Buren bulletin |