God waits with open arms, we just need to return to him as the waiting father in this parable. I try to always view my relationship with God as if He were my father (yes, I know it's His), but I mean the way you view an earthly father. I had a wonderful father growing up. No matter the situation, good or bad, I found myself in, I knew I could always turn to my father for support, understanding, advice, and he was my greatest supporter during these times. But he did what every father should do and told me when I was wrong, or that I had really thought about my situation and was making the right decision. I knew I could always turn to him. I think this is the relationship God seeks to have with us. He wants us to come to him, in good times and bad, to ask for his advice, or to feel his joy in our joyous moments, or even to fall into his arms in mundane moments. In the story of the prodigal son, the son wanted everything his father would give him, but he wanted it now, as opposed to when you receive your inheritance after their death. The father gave his son exactly what he wanted, and it hurt him, maybe he even suffered a little, but he did it anyway. After the son had taken him and left and then found himself eating with the pigs, he thought of his father again. No matter how much time passed, that father was so excited to see his son come home to him and accepted him