The Long Road Home

Ever since I was young, I’ve found John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrims Progress” to be insightful in the way that it speaks to the human experience, regardless of age or season of life. That’s the beauty of allegory – it taps into our God-given creativity in a way that connects to the human and spiritual realities of life.

For that reason, as I was reading through the parable of the prodigal son three years ago, my mind wandered off in a similar vein, but to what the prodigal son might have left home in search of. And since it’s a parable, what is it that ultimately draws our hearts away from our Father and what he’s already provided for us?

As my mind swirled with all the ways I’ve been led astray, and ways I’ve seen my children search elsewhere for their identity, purpose, and happiness, I began to write my own allegorical storyline – one that explores the journey that the younger son (whom I’ve given the name “Wander”) may have taken in search of happiness – ways common to most children (and if we’re honest, most adults as well).

The story follows Wander, as he leaves with his father’s cash in hand, and travels to the alluring towns of Perfection, Prosperity, and Popularity. Each new town brings a brief sense of happiness, but eventually, as the excitement wears off, he’s overcome by a deepening sense of emptiness as he finds himself in the town of Desperation. It’s then that Wander remembers his father’s words, “Wherever you go, my son, I want you to remember that I love you with a never-ending love.”

But don’t worry, I won’t give away the rest of the story!

The Long Road Home retells this powerful parable in a creative and understandable way for children ages 6–8. As kids hear about Wander’s difficult experiences and discuss them with their parents, my prayer is that they will learn that joy is not found within themselves or in the world. Instead, children will rediscover the never-ending love of their heavenly Father, who gives them worth, hope, and identity when they put their trust in him. 

And I’m thrilled to finally share that “The Long Road Home” releases in two weeks! If you have children, grandchildren, or friends with kids who you think would enjoy this, I hope you’ll grab a copy to have on hand. The illustrations are truly breathtaking (I can say that because first of all, that’s not my gifting and I had no part in creating them, and second, the Illustrator Christina Yang truly did an outstanding job in bringing the story to life)! I’ll give you a little inside peak below.

It’s truly been a privilege to be a part of this project and I pray it will serve families well. And I wanted to share it with you all first! If you do have kiddos in your life who might enjoy it, you can order it from Amazon here, or directly from Crossway here.

More than anything, I’d greatly appreciate prayers that the Lord would use this to speak into the lives of children and parents who are either prone toward pride like the older brother (named Goodness) or those facing the temptations and allure of one or more of the “cities” that Wander goes searching for happiness in. And many of us will find a little of ourselves on both sides of the spectrum – myself included. Above all, I pray it will be a sweet reminder of the love of our Heavenly Father toward all of those who wander.

Thank you for your support and prayers in the coming weeks! Here’s a sneak peak…

Home is around the corner,

Sarah Walton

You connect with Sarah on Instagram here. 

To read more of Sarah’s writings, you can purchase a copy of He Gives More Grace: 30 Reflections for the Ups and Downs of Motherhood, Hope When It Hurts: 30 Biblical Reflections to help you grasp God’s purpose in your suffering), Tears and Tossings (short evangelistic resource on how God carries our sorrows), or Together Through the Storms (for married couples navigating the trials of life). Lastly, you can now pre-order Sarah’s Pilgrim’s Progress inspired children’s book based on the account of the Prodigal Son, titled “The Long Road Home” (Crossway, October 29th, 2024).