Here is the text of the story we used in the second Family Lent Group. Henri Nouwen, in the adults session had talked about the confusion the Son felt on his journey home, how difficult it was for him. We tried to get this sense over in the story. We told this in an active way, walking round the churchand stopping at different places to here the children read different thoughts, but it could just as easily be told sitting down. The refrains in the story mean that children can join in if you want them to (or maybe even if you don’t!)

Jesus told a story about two brothers.

The younger son left home with half his father’s money. After the money had gone and his ‘friends’ had left him he got a job with a farmer looking after some pigs.

The younger son was sitting in the pigsty, surrounded by the pigs. His fine clothes had turned to rags and he stood in the mud. As he stood, bucket in hand he thought.

“I am so lonely I have no one but the pigs to talk to. I am so hungry my side ache.”

What was he going to do? Then a thought popped into his mind.

“My father treats his servants better than this. I’ll go home and ask to be a servant”

So he picked up his bag. It was very light because it was empty. And so he set off down the road. It was hot and as he walked a thought popped into his head.

“But…what if my father is angry. I behaved really, really badly. I acted like I wanted him dead. What shall I do?”

But what choice did he have? He had nowhere else to go. So off he went again. It was hot. Lucky his bag was light. As he walked a thought popped into his head.

“But…what if he doesn’t have any room for me. He might have enough servants. What shall I do?”

But what choice did he have? He had no where else to go. So off he went again. It was hot. Lucky his bag was light. As he walked a thought popped into his head.

“But…what if he doesn’t recognise me. He might think I am a stranger. What shall I do?”

But what choice did he have? He had no where else to go. So off he went again. It was hot. Lucky his bag was light. As he walked a thought popped into his head.

“ But… what if my father is so sad, he won’t look at me and won’t listen. What shall I do?”

But what choice did he have? He had no where else to go. So off he went again. It was hot. Lucky his bag was light. As he walked a thought popped into his head.

“But…what if my father can’t afford to take me. I walked off with all his money. What shall I do?”

But what choice did he have? He had no where else to go. So off he went again. It was hot. Lucky his bag was light. As he walked a thought popped into his head.

“But…what if my father laughs at me, when he sees me in rags. What shall I do?”

Then in the distance the distance the son saw a figure. He was ready with his plan. “Father,” he got ready to say “I know I treated you badly, let me come and work as a servant” but he didn’t get that far. His father flung his arms around him. “My son, I love you and have missed you so much.” “Father, I know I treated you…” he tried to say. But his father wasn’t listening. He called his servants. “Bring a new cloak and clothes” The son found his rags removed and a rich robe and cloak put on him. Music began in the house and the party began for The son that was lost was now found. He had been away and now he was home.