This week, we learned of an altercation between a dear young lady and her father. The heated encounter caused the daughter to quit her job at their family owned business, saying she never wants to see her father again. Those few moments of words exchanged ended with a broken relationship… a daughter cut ties with her father, and the father lost a daughter. As I prayed for these two people, I was reminded of our own relationship with our heavenly Father. How many times have we “cut ties” or turned our backs on Jesus? How many times have we chosen our own way and ignored our Father’s loving wisdom? For me, it’s too many times to count! It seems almost daily that I must make a conscious decision to follow Jesus and His truth, rather than my own will. When I feel the weight of my own sin, I am reminded of the prodigal’s father. Don has often spoken on the prodigal father, waiting with open arms, not to accuse or cut off, but to welcome his child home with feasting and dancing. FEASTING and DANCING!!!
This topic brought to mind an old song, “Prodigal Daughter,” which my husband and son brought home from the Toronto Airport Vineyard, after going up for a youth conference with our old church in Connecticut. I remember how the tears streamed as I listened to the words for the first time. In my heart, I knew that my walk with Jesus had become a “going through the motions” type of relationship. We had gone through a tough couple of years, after one of our daughters was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. As I listened to this song, I broke down in desperation for that cup of cold water, the kind that only Jesus can give. My parched, longing heart was filled with new hope.
The song is prophetic and contains dual meaning. One being reference to the lost, to the fatherless, to prostitutes, drug addicts, to the unseen, to people who desperately need Jesus… but also, I believe it refers to the prodigal, wayward church, being called back into intimacy with the Father. So many amazing things are happening all over the world, with people finding salvation, wayward Christians returning to Christ, to a love that is real and not an empty counterfeit. Jesus is alive!!!
See lyrics below (transcribed with help from Horace, as we could not find them online)
Here is the link to the song on YouTube:
(For reference, Luke 15:11-32)
Prodigal Daughter (Ruis, Smith, Leaf, Janzen: Salvation Singing (P)(C)1998 Remnant Records)
I see her wander around, Princess without a crown
Stumbling and falling down, Beneath her burden
She’s floating through my town, A bride without a gown
Passing her heart, To numb the hurting
She’s scared of coming home. She’s been so long alone
She’s sat upon her throne, Until it crumbles
And now she’s got to choose, She’s nothing left to lose
She’s battered and she’s bruised, She’s feeling humbled
And saying her prayers, To no one…
[Chorus]
Who is her brother? Who is her keeper?
Where is her lover? Can anyone reach her?
Cup of cold water, In the name of the Father
I’m sending a letter, To the Prodigal Daughter
Now where is the reward, For all the ones who mourn
For those who suffer scorn, And have no fathers
Maybe the blessed are cursed, Maybe the last are first
Maybe the ones who thirst, Who find the water
Her lover sees inside, He sees with lover’s eyes
He sees a radiant bride, With passion burning
Everything upside down, Her rags become a gown
Her scars become a crown, At the returning
And I, Sing my song, to you, baby
[Repeat Chorus]