Mary Rice Hopkins - Come Back Home

Parable Praise Party

A Faith Parenting Guide can be found on page 34.

written by Mary Rice Hopkins

illustrated by Dennas Davis

Faith Kidz is an imprint of Cook Communications Ministries

Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918

Cook Communications, Paris, Ontario

Kingsway Communications, Eastbourne, England

COME BACK HOME 2004 words by Mary Rice Hopkins and illustrations by Dennas Davis

All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced, scanned, resold, or distributed by or through any print or electronic medium without written permission from the publisher. This ebook is licensed solely for the personal and noncommercial use of the original authorized purchaser, subject to the terms of use under which it was purchased. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights.

All Scripture quotations, unless indicated, are taken from the NEW

INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1995, 1996, 1998 by

International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-7814-1201-8

Editor: Heather Gemmen Interior

To my three brothers, Wayne, Jimmy and Joe

whom I love dearly. - MRH

For Ruthie - DD

Once there were two sons and a dad who loved them so. But one son said, Im out of here.

He said, I want to go.

Please give me what is mine, and Ill party with my friends..

I want to see what I can buy. I want to spend and spend .

So he turned to go away with just a quick goodbye.

The father was so very sad. A tear came to his eye.

The young man left without a thought to things he left behind. He just thought of what hed do and all the fun hed find.

He laughed and partied all night long

and slept all through the day...

But soon the money disappeared

and friends all went away.

And so he finally thought about all hed left back home.

Life was better with his dad when he was not alone.

He said, I wish I didnt leave that dear old dad of mine.

I wouldnt be eating with the pigs and living with the swine.

Ill ask my dad if I can be just like his hired hand.

His servants have a better life. Ill hope hell understand.

So he left to go back home to say sorry to his dad.

Ill ask for his forgiveness. I wonder if hes mad.

The father saw him coming, and he ran out of the door. He gave the son some presents;

but his words meant so much more.

The father said, I love you, son. You were lost, but now youre found. Its time to eat the fatted cow with everyone in town.

The father was so happy and thankful for his son. He said, Come on, lets celebrate

all that God has done.