I grew up in a Buddhist home full of love and trauma. My mother could pray for hours on the floor and had special prayer pillows deeply indented by her knees. I would tell people my mom could outpray any Christian because she was a “prayer warrior.”
In 2012, we found out she had stage 4 cancer. It didn’t stop her from living life to the fullest. She passed away in 2018, and I don’t know if she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Saviour.
Why am I sharing this story with you concerning the teaching of the Prodigal Son? It’s because what I haven’t told you is she always wanted more from life. She wanted money, jewelry, happiness, and success. The prodigal son also wanted more.
“The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate . . .”
Luke 15:12
She wanted all these things while working hard to be at peace. She was at odds with herself and took it out on those around her. Months before she passed, I visited her in Thailand. She was in a lot of pain, frail, distant, and constantly meditating to be a better person for the next life.
One morning she took a break from meditating and asked me to share my beliefs about life and death. I did my best to share the amazing love of Jesus Christ as I had done many times before. However, this time I knew it was going to be my last. After I finished, she looked at me and said, “I never heard Jesus like that before.” All I could do at that moment was look into my mom’s eyes and pray that she would sense God’s love and peace.
Until her death, I never stopped praying for her. I hoped she would come to know Jesus and be welcomed into the eternal family to find the peace, joy, and love she had been seeking. Just like the prodigal son did when he finally came home.
Father, open our eyes to welcome all who don’t know you. Keep your church a place of peace, love, and rest for all who are looking for a home. Amen.
Michelle Jones
Operations Director