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The Story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is a beautiful illustration of God’s heart for people. No matter what we have done, or how far we have strayed, God will take us back, bring us home, and restore us as his children, and there is nothing we can do to deserve this. That is what grace is. Here is how we explored this story.
The Story
We read the story from The Beginner’s Bible. We talked about how the father was so loving he took his son back even though he disobeyed and now smelled like a pig. For adults, the fact that the son literally was eating with pigs was symbolic that he couldn’t get any farther lost. Pigs were unclean, and not to be eaten by Jewish people. The fact that he was not only caring for pigs, but living with them showed what a disgrace he had become. But the father took him back.
Pig Play
Then we had some fun with a pig sensory bin.
What you need:
- Toy pigs (pro tip: if you use Fisher Price, plug the holes in the bottom with hot glue first).
- Chocolate Playdough (this is the same recipe we used in Eyes and Mud).
- Green Easter Grass
- Popcorn Kernels
Arrange the items as you desire, and leave out as an invitation to play. Vale immediately got her farmer out to join in the fun. As she played I briefly reminded her of the son who was forgiven, even though he smelled like a pig.
Baby Devotions 