Hope for Parents of Prodigals

Every parent will experience joy and some degree of heartache as their children grow and make choices. But when a teen chooses an addictive path of drugs or alcohol or (fill in the blank), a parent’s heartache can turn to heartbreak.

Wendy Gorton Hill’s book Watching the Wayward addresses the struggles and loneliness of parenting a prodigal. This book is not a “how to” resolve family issues book, instead it nourishes the heart by real laments that also whisper hope.

Author Wendy Gorton Hill writes from her own painful journey and shares more in this interview:

What prompted you to write Watching the Wayward?

Initially, it was a personal journal. I used it as a way to help express the emotions trapped inside me when we discovered our 15-year-old son’s drug use. It was one way to pour out my anguish.

Although you’ve written fiction novels, how would you describe your writing style in this book?

It’s a combination of prayer and poetry. I let my words pour out lament and hurt while I petitioned God for healing and hope. Writing this way helped me process not only my son’s struggle but my own. Parents of prodigals wrestle with embarrassment and feelings of failure. I had to face my own pride and my lack of trust. I questioned how God was working in our lives.

Is the target audience parents with wayward teens or adults?

Both. In fact, I don’t think the book’s appeal is limited to those with wayward children. We have all, at some point, been wayward from our heavenly Father. His heart for us, like my heart for my troubled son, longs to see us return to His guidance and protection.

Explain how you structured your book.

I followed the path of the prodigal story in Luke, so I arranged the poem/prayers into categories. It begins with the prodigal’s departure. Other sections cover disillusionment and the son’s return. There is rejoicing and resentment (the older brother’s response.) Not only does my book unfold the hearts of the parent and prodigal, but it notes how addictions affect the entire family. It’s so important for parents to not overlook the non-wayward siblings. I’ve included reflective questions and Scripture references at the end of the book for each poem. These are perfect for personal journaling or to facilitate conversations with family and friends.

Thank you, Wendy, for your thoughtful and beautiful writing that provides insight and hope for parents and prodigals. Click here to purchase: Watching the Waywad: Psalms for Parents of Prodigals or it is available on Amazon and other book retailers in both e-book and paperback.