One of the most famous dropouts in history, cited by Christ Jesus in a parable, was the younger son of the father who divided his living between his two sons. Tradition has since called the younger son the prodigal because he forgot his obligations and squandered what he was given. The older son, however, who stayed dutifully at home, permitted self-righteousness or apathy to prevent him from the full enjoyment of his riches. Both sons felt they had been shut out of happiness and abundant living. In each case the father went out to his son and reasoned with him lovingly.
The Sunday School teacher who is yearning to keep his pupils coming to the weekly feast that can be enjoyed by regular attendance at a Christian Science Sunday School, or hoping to draw back those who appear to have lost interest, will do well to study this familiar parable again for fresh inspiration about the father's part in the story.
A father who would run to meet the prodigal and embrace him had neither forgotten his son nor passed the interval of his absence in self-condemnation or injured pride. His thought was for the son, not for himself. Therefore any evidence that the son had awakened was more than welcome. In the case of the older son's jealousy, the father showed no irritation. He had only an outgoing warmth that included both sons equally, without comparisons or recrimination.
