To My Prodigal Son

A Poem by Karen Abeyta

Originally published in Fathom Magazine, February 2021

You once recited the sinner’s prayer

donning a Power Rangers costume

fearing Hell, but

not loving God

A freshman

you no longer knew

what you believed

Appalled little sister informed

“You’re going to hell!”

Three days weeping, I blamed

my sin

my husband

myself

Now you text

the praying hands emoji—

Your sole request

for divine intervention

They say

you can’t outrun a mother’s prayers

(or can you?)

and what about the

Hound of Heaven

and that kid from the Muslim family

who got saved which just goes to show

it’s not all about parenting

And even Billy Graham’s own son…

and I know

there’s only one

Holy Spirit (who’s not me)

and He must draw you

but, surely

if I had gotten

the nightly devotional

right and kept you from

those PG-13 movies…

If I were less like a piece

of cardboard

and more like Christ

You would want Him

about the artist

Karen Abeyta

Karen lives in Vermont with her husband and (sometimes) her two kids who attend college. A true theology geek, she enjoys helping people understand the Bible. Her work has been published in Fathom Magazine, Heartstrong Faith, Sacred Stories Ministries, Saturday SOULfood, and Just Between Us.

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