ON CHRISTIANITY

DEAR REV. GRAHAM: Against our strong advice, our daughter ran off with her boyfriend a couple of years ago, and we told her we never wanted to see her again. Well, now he’s tossed her out (which we knew would happen) and she wants to move back home. My wife says yes, but I’m not so sure.

— K.S. DEAR K.S.: What your daughter did was foolish and morally wrong, and sadly she’s now paying the price for her folly. The Bible warns, “Whoever takes crooked paths will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9).

But this doesn’t mean you should turn your back on your daughter, or rejoice that you were right and she was wrong. If you do not help her, what will likely happen to her? Where will she be five months from now or five years from now? You may never see her again, and instead of learning from her mistakes and becoming a better person, she may well turn to even more destructive paths. Forgiving her and welcoming her home now may be the only opportunity you’ll ever have to influence her for good, with God’s help.

Do you remember Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son? (You can find it in Luke 15:11-32.) Like your daughter, this son was determined to strike out on his own and live only for pleasure. But eventually he ran out of money, his “friends” abandoned him, and finally he repented of his folly and returned home. And what did his father do? He loved him and welcomed him home, in spite of all he’d done.

This is a vivid picture of God’s love and forgiveness for us, in spite of our sins. But it’s also an illustration of the love and forgiveness we should extend to others. May God give you a renewed love for your daughter.

Write to Billy Graham in care of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C. 28201 or visit the website at