3 Principles for Parents of Prodigals

3 Principles for Parents of Prodigals found in Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home by Lori Wildenberg

Below are a few principles I have learned while walking that messy journey with a prodigal. These thoughts have helped me greatly. If you have a child who has gone astray, I share these with you in the hope they will help you too.
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“Life is not a straight line.” 1
None of us expect the unexpected. Life is full of hairpin turns and switchbacks.

“Our love for our children is unconditional but our help is conditional.” 2
Having a prodigal child we must always express our love yet not enable behavior we want to extinguish. The rebel must participate in the solution.

“Boundary setting is more for the parents than the prodigal.” 3
We can only control our own responses.

Do these thoughts and truisms resonate with you? If so you can discover lots more of these golden nuggets in my newest book: Messy Journey. Head over to your local bookstore, Amazon,or contact me to purchase Messy Journey.

Here’s what the experts are saying:

This book will be balm for those who are weary and wounded, and comfort and encouragement for those who love them.

–Mary Heathman, M.A., Founding Director of Where Grace Abounds, Inc.

No matter why you have a prodigal, or if you want to support someone who does, or if you are a prodigal yourself, this book will encourage you. There is hope in these pages!
– Kathy Koch, Ph.D., Founder/President Celebrate Kids, Inc.

This is a resource that every parent whose child has strayed from the expected path will want to have on their nightstand, but it’s also a book for youth and family pastors, counselors, and support group leaders.

–Vicki Tiede, Speaker, Author of When Your Husband’s Addicted to Pornography: Healing Your Wounded Heart

This book is a beautiful balance of the real-life mess of loving a prodigal and the steadfast truth of God’s Word. I will be recommending this book to many in the years to come.
–Dr. Juli Slattery, Co-founder of Authentic Intimacy

Messy Journey will feed your soul, give peace to your spirit, and empower you to step into the messy journey with grace and truth. You are not alone.

–Jill Savage, founder of Hearts at Home, and co-author of No More Perfect Kids

Lori Wildenberg is a licensed parent and family

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educator, co-founder of 1Corinthians13Parenting.com,

Lori’s newest book, Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home (New Hope Publishers) can be ordered on Amazon or found at your favorite bookstore. If you are a parent of a child who has strayed or know a family in this situation, this book will provide comfort, help, and hope.
Click here to Contact Lori to speak at your next event. She is also available for parent consulting and parent training courses. Lori can also be found mentoring over at MOMS Together community on Facebook.

1. Lori Wildenberg, Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home ( Birmingham: New Hope Publishers, 2017) p.11.
2. Ibid., p. 65.
3. Ibid., p. 70.