“๐ฝ๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ ๐ก๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐ค๐๐, ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ง ๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ข ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐๐ข; ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐จ ๐จ๐ค๐ฃ, ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ง๐ข๐จ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ข ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข.โ ๐๐ช๐ ๐ ๐๐:๐๐
I don’t really remember when I first heard the Parable of the Prodigal Son, but it captivates me every time. Each reading finds me squarely in the story, not just in one character but in all three.
I think that’s true for most of us, especially those in this final chapter of life often called the fourth quarter.
The seasons of life come into sharper focus now, seen through a lens we didn’t have in earlier chapters.
Looking back, there were years when I was unmistakably the younger son. Times when my anger, grief, or disappointment led me to pull away from God, from others, and from being my best self.
So I would runโnot always physically, but emotionally and spiritually. When I finally came to my senses, I often carried shame, wondering whether I deserved to be loved and welcomed back.
There were also times when I behaved like the older son. Dutiful, responsible, doing all the right things, yet quietly keeping score. Resentful when others received grace I felt hadn’t been extended to me.
I see now how easily pride can disguise itself as self-righteousness and can harden the heart.
But now, in this season of life, I feel a different callingโperhaps the deepest yet: to become the Father in the parable.
The Father doesn’t lecture, replay old arguments, or demand explanations before offering his unconditional love. He simply runs toward his loved ones with open arms.
I’ve learned that the truest measure of life isn’t the “resume virtues” David Brooks describes in his book “The Road to Character”โall the titles, promotions, and accomplishments we build in earlier chapters.
What matters most in this final quarter is the legacy of the relationships I leave behind, what he calls the “eulogy virtues.” How did I love? How did I welcome people home? How did I show up?
My aspiration is no longer to be right or even understoodโbut to be loving. To welcome others without judgment, without conditions, without rewriting yesterday’s battles. To love generously, especially when relationships are complicated.
Every human life includes many moments of feeling lost, of being resentful, but also of learning to love more like God loves.
In the end, God hopes each of us can welcome one another home.
๐๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฎ?
*When have you been the younger son? The older son? The Father?
*Is there someone in your life you need to welcome home?
Wishing my clients, colleagues, fellow coaches, and friends the gift of Godโs abundant love, Dr. K 
