To My Prodigal Son
A Poem by Karen Abeyta
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 (Living by Design Ministries), and Just Between Us (Summer 2022).
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