To the Dutiful Son Who Stayed Behind
Bob Wickizer
Joshua 5:9-12
Unlike you I am not a firstborn child but you and I have had similar experiences in life staying home with dad getting all the work done. I'm sure you know what it was like working together with Dad until the light fades, you cannot see, your back hurts and your fingers are bleeding from the work. Yes, you and I have toiled with our fathers quite a lot. At times we were so tired or we hurt so much there didn't seem to be much point to going into town to party. Celebrate what after all? Another day to work?
And like you, I cannot begin to imagine the presumptuousness of that bratty brother going to Dad in the middle of the day when we were out working no less. Without a care in the world he sweet-talked Dad into giving him his half of everything and of course Dad just gave him everything he wanted and sent him on his way. We will never know if Dad expected him to do something productive with all that money or whether Dad gave it to him knowing that he would just go out and blow it all.
From the story it also looks like you and I share something else in common - we don't confront. You did not confront your father after bratty brother returned home. You should have because it might have helped you. I find confrontation difficult too. Instead of getting it all out in the open, we both steam with resentment and we brood on things. We sometimes miss the bigger picture because we are stuck in an emotional slow-burn.
When you saw the bratty brother skipping down the road with all that money how long did your bitterness and anger fester? Did the weeks turn into years? Did you find that your father's requests triggered angry resentful thoughts in you? Did you slowly develop an outer shell of restraint that you mistook for righteousness?
Even though you are the older and I am the younger brother we both seem to care a lot about fairness in all things. I bet you were known for your fair dealing ...
Bob Wickizer
Joshua 5:9-12
Unlike you I am not a firstborn child but you and I have had similar experiences in life staying home with dad getting all the work done. I'm sure you know what it was like working together with Dad until the light fades, you cannot see, your back hurts and your fingers are bleeding from the work. Yes, you and I have toiled with our fathers quite a lot. At times we were so tired or we hurt so much there didn't seem to be much point to going into town to party. Celebrate what after all? Another day to work?
And like you, I cannot begin to imagine the presumptuousness of that bratty brother going to Dad in the middle of the day when we were out working no less. Without a care in the world he sweet-talked Dad into giving him his half of everything and of course Dad just gave him everything he wanted and sent him on his way. We will never know if Dad expected him to do something productive with all that money or whether Dad gave it to him knowing that he would just go out and blow it all.
From the story it also looks like you and I share something else in common - we don't confront. You did not confront your father after bratty brother returned home. You should have because it might have helped you. I find confrontation difficult too. Instead of getting it all out in the open, we both steam with resentment and we brood on things. We sometimes miss the bigger picture because we are stuck in an emotional slow-burn.
When you saw the bratty brother skipping down the road with all that money how long did your bitterness and anger fester? Did the weeks turn into years? Did you find that your father's requests triggered angry resentful thoughts in you? Did you slowly develop an outer shell of restraint that you mistook for righteousness?
Even though you are the older and I am the younger brother we both seem to care a lot about fairness in all things. I bet you were known for your fair dealing ...
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