the angels would rejoice over a repentant sinner. Each individual is precious to God. He grieves over every loss and rejoices whenever one of his children is found and brought into the kingdom. Perhaps we would have more joy in our churches if we shared Jesus’ love and concern for the lost. God is patient with the lost. In the two preceding stories, the seekers actively looked for the coin and the sheep, which could not return by themselves. In this story, the father watched and waited. He was dealing