I am reposting this 2011 review because the Kindle edition is $2.99.
Summary: Whether you have a prodigal child, were a prodigal child or know a prodigal child, this books on the heart break of loving a prodigal and what it teaches us about God loving us is a must read.
Right up front I have to disclose that I know Dan Mayhew (the author) and his wife Jody. I have been aware of the roots of what this book is talking about for the past decade or so since I first met them. I have not ever met their son, but I have frequently prayed for him and the family.
So maybe I am tainted in my opinion, but the reality of a parent writing about their love of a child, and the corresponding pain of watching a child struggle through bad decisions, addiction, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (after serving in Iraq), homelessness, suicide attempts, etc., is powerful stuff.
This is a heartbreaking, but hopeful book. Hopeful, because the father is always wanting the best for his son, but even more hopeful because he is continually reflecting back on his own relationship as a prodigal with God. But the book is still heartbreaking because I read about the ongoing pain. This is not a book that has a solution. There is no ending, the son is still a prodigal.
Honestly, I have no real words to describe the book. I am still shaken by the reality that it describes. But I do hope others read it. I think many parents would benefit from seeing another family walk through the struggle of a prodigal. And I think many children (whether you were a prodigal or not) need to read it to help understand a parent’s love for them. For me the biggest reminder is the quote from Luke 11:13, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give…to those who ask Him?”
The Butterfly and the Stone Purchase by Dan Mayhew Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition