A story of God’s transforming love
Every month I ask staff to send me client stories. I love reading them and praising God for the impact Catholic Charities makes through our work in the community.
I recall one moving story of a very smart young woman who came to Lubbock for college. She was doing great, enjoying her classes, was involved in band, lived in the dorms, and was meeting so many new people. She made the Dean’s List and received an unexpected scholarship.
Things looked very promising until she started to take self-reliance a little too far and separated herself from family and friends and made some very bad decisions. Her decisions led to her no longer having a place to live, no food to eat, and no transportation since she had wasted all the money that she was supposed to use to pay for school. She hit rock bottom, and it didn’t take long to realize she needed to go home to her parents.
Her story sounds quite similar to today’s Gospel story. Both the prodigal son and the young lady knew what they were doing. They placed their trust in the world rather than in God. They chose to separate themselves from God, family and friends. They made bad decisions that came with a great price. Yet, in finding themselves they experienced true compunction of heart for their sins.
Then, just like the butterfly that must experience a metamorphosis, the transformation began. The parable of the Prodigal Son is a story of the power of God’s transforming love. The story of the young lady is a testimony to all the parents who continuously pray for their lost children. When we realize our own self-worth, we begin to see that God’s hand has been guiding and protecting us through the entire process. He never loses sight of us. He covers us all with his love and mercy and sets us on a much better path! At Catholic Charities, we have an opportunity to minister to so many families and individuals who are struggling with broken relationships, lack of communication, trauma, anxiety, homelessness, hunger, depression and isolation. May the people who enter our doors feel at home. May Christ’s love extend to each one of them amid their struggles and may this love give them hope for an abundance of new life and complete transformation.
Cynthia Quintanilla, the young lady in the story, is the Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock, Texas. Cynthia earned her Masters degree from Catholic Theological Union, is an active member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, a Vincentian, and a leader with Llano Estacado Alliance for Democracy (LEAD).