sire. God treats us very kindly. He gives us
every needed comfort and every daily blessing, and yet oftentimes people
are discontented and dissatisfied with God; they complain and think they
have a hard time of it. Instead of being faithful and true to God, they
turn away from him. They desire to forsake God and serve Satan. They
desire to accept what Satan says, and so turn away from God and all that
is good. But they have the same experience over and over again that this
young man had. He went out with fine clothes and plenty of money, and
with high hopes; but he returned home in rags, without a penny in his
pocket, disappointed, penitent and ashamed.

[Illustration: The Returning Prodigal]

But I must not forget to tell you, that when he had journeyed many a
week, toiling wearily over the long road that had separated him from his
father's house, at last he came near his old home. In going away he had
nearly broken his father's heart. With sorrow he was bringing his
aged father down to the grave. But his father still loved his wayward
boy, and expected him home. As he sat watching at the door looking over
the hills, he saw the returning prodigal when he was yet a great way
off. This loving and forgiving father had compassion upon his son, ran
and fell upon his neck and kissed him, and welcomed him back home again.
The wayward boy's heart was all broken up by such kind treatment. He
fell upon his knees at his father's feet and said to his father,
"Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, and am no more
worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants."

But the father called his servants and commanded them to bring the best
robe and put it upon this boy who had given him so much sorrow; to bring
the ring and put it upon his finger; and then to kill the fatted calf,
so that they might make a great feast, in order that all might be made
very glad, because this his son, who was dead, was alive again, he who
had been lost was found.

So when we come back to God after we have sinned against Him, and are
repentant and sorry for what we have done, in love and great tenderness
He forgives our sins. And like the prodigal, in the time of his sorest
misery, found in his father's heart the greatest mercy, so you and I may
come to God knowing that in the day of our dire distress He is always
willing to love us and to forgive us as His own dear children. Let us be
careful not to sin against Him, and