The Prodigal Son and I

My thoughts on this story in the Bible (Luke 15:11–32):

Although the younger son is well cared for by his loving father, he demands his inheritance prematurely. He goes abroad because he wants a freer, better life there. He squanders the inheritance irresponsibly.

Only when he is poor, forced to tend pigs and live among them, does he repent of what he has done and realize that even his father's servants have a better life. He decides to return to his father, even to work as a servant.

His father forgives him, holds a feast, and welcomes him back as his son. The older son does not understand his father's heart, becomes jealous, and even angry. The father must also explain his heart to the older son.

What do I learn from this?

For many years of my life, I too did not know the heart of God, my heavenly Father. Sometimes I would run away from home, oblivious to my mother's worries.

Often, when I was feeling down, I asked God for help. I didn't ask God how He was doing or if there was anything I could do to help Him.

Also the prodigal son only returned to his father when he was suffering. He didn't think that his father was worried about him.

Am I sometimes like the older son, jealous when I believe that God loves and blesses other people more than me?

Do I want to remain an immature child, constantly asking my parents or God for help, or do I want to become a mature adult who understands God's worries and heart and wants to help Him?

Many people think that God doesn't need us because He is perfect. Can we learn to understand that even a perfect God rejoices in the love His children have for Him?