The Return of the Prodigal Son (Leonello Spada, Louvre, Paris) Image via Wikipedia
Hey person, will you tell me another one of those stories Jesus told about the two bulls.
Yeah, that’s what I mean. One of those pair a bulls that Jesus told.
My person says one of Jesus’ famous parables is about a son who just wants to party. So he talks his father into giving him his inheritance early and he goes to a faraway land and spends it all partying. After the son’s money is gone there’s a famine in the land and the only job he can get is one feeding pigs.
Hey, there’s animals in this story. Did he get all muddy with the pigs?
I am listening person.
He what? He didn’t have anything to eat? Those pigs had something to eat.
Okay. I’ll listen.
The son decided to go home and work for his father like a hired servant. At least he would have something to eat. But when he was still a long way off his father saw him and ran to him. He was so happy that his son was home that he treated him royally and had a big feast for him.
The older son, who had been home serving his father the whole time got really upset that his younger brother, who had squandered all his father’s money, was getting a feast in his honor. The older son felt that he’d never had such special treatment and he’d always done everything right.
Didn’t that older son even get a birthday party?
Okay, I’m listening. I promise.
The father told the older son that he has always been with him, and everything the father has belongs to the older son. But his brother was dead and now is alive, was lost and is found.
Hey person, can I try updating this story so my friends will understand it better?
Okay, here goes.
A young pup talked his person into giving him an extra share of meaty bones and then he ran off with them. He had a big party and treated his friends to some of the bones and gave some to girl dogs so they’d let him make more young pups.
Then he ran out of bones and he couldn’t find anything to eat. His friends he’d shared his bones with had all disappeared and the girl dogs were too busy feeding their puppies.
So he tucked his tail between his legs and headed back home, hoping he could do something to earn his keep and his person would let him stay.
When he got close to home his person saw him and ran out to him. His person gave him a great big bowl of the best dog food and some more meaty bones too.
But the other dog that lived there got really upset. He was always a good dog and he didn’t get any meaty bones.
The dog’s person gave the other dog some loves and told him he always had a home and love there, but he had thought the young pup was dead or lost, and now he was alive and found.
Hey person, if I run off and come back will you give me some meaty bones?
Woo woo! I just found out today is a Double Dog Day Celebration. Not only is it National Take Your Dog to Work Day today, it is also National Dog Party Day.
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