I was a child of my beloved father
Not knowing what it was to be a slave
He gave me all that I daily needed but rebellion entered into my heart
Without knowing what the world was, I longed for freedom,
Away from his embrace
My father had hired servants who worked for us
But I thought life would be beautiful in a far country
Away from his loving arms, I craved for the pleasures of the world
Unknowing that I was setting myself up for regret and destruction
Not many days after I had left, I wasted all my inheritance on vanities and riotous living
As a citizen in the far but strange country,
Ignorant of what had been lost, suddenly, famine came and I was in want
The citizens of that country told me all will be well
But the deceitful world had taken all that was left and I became hungry for bread
I had no choice than to gladly eat the husk the swine ate
But my father’s hired servants ate the best meals that their heart felt
My beautiful robe was torn and I was left with rags to wear
Defiled by the citizens of the land
I had no shelter to lay my head
Only but to sleep and feed among the dirty and smelly swine of the land
Alas! My senses came back to life
As I reasoned that my father’s hired servants had enough to eat and to spare
But prodigal I was perishing in hunger and want
I arose and went back to my father, if he’d probably forgive me and make me his servant
But love did not allow him to reject his lost son
And a mile afar off, he saw me and pitied me
Running towards me, he kissed and embraced me in his arms
I apologized and he forgave all my wrongs completely
The best robe was prepared for me to wear
And a ring of honor was fixed into my finger to wear
He commanded that my feet was not left bare on earth, as they were decked in royal shoes to wear
A feast was made for me and I felt what it was to be a son, yet again
O, his grace found me,
Because I was once dead but now alive in his hands,
Lost was I but his mercy found me
Never depart from the loving arms of your Father because woe betides the prodigal
Written by Oluwamayowa Adeniyi