Story:
No Empty Chairs
“Mommy, why did Kevin go away? Doesn’t he love us anymore?”
Karen sat at the kitchen table next to her 3 year old daughter who was coloring. She wiped away a tear from her cheek as she glanced at her oldest son Kevin’s empty chair and then began thumbing through Sydney’s Animated Stories coloring books. She found the Prodigal Son and placed it on the table.
“Remember the story Jesus told about the prodigal son?”
“He lost all his money and he had to eat with the pigs! Right mommy?”
“That’s right Sydney. And even though he went away he still loved his family, didn’t he?”
Sydney, looked at her mother, and nodded.
“Kevin is kind of like that boy. He still loves us and we still love him, but he chose to move away instead of following the rules that daddy and I have set up for our home.”
Sydney began to cry. Karen picked her up and placed her on her lap.
“Mommy, I don’t want Kevin to have to eat with the pigs! They eat yucky stuff!”
Karen stroked her daughter’s hair.
“Oh, sweetie! Kevin won’t have to eat with the pigs. But hopefully like the prodigal son, he’ll realize he’s made a mistake and he’ll come home too!”
Sydney looked up at her mother and gave her a big hug.
“Mommy, I’m always going to do what you and daddy want me to so I won’t never have to leave you! And when Kevin comes home we’ll have a big feast too, okay?”
Karen nodded as she fought back tears and silently prayed that the feast would be soon and that there will be “No Empty Chairs” in their Heavenly home.
Margie Nauta Lee
