A father sent his twin sons off to colleges with great pride and hope that they would study hard, become educated, and make something of their lives.  He had saved for years to afford to send his boys to respected universities.  However, one twin engaged in excessive socializing and drinking from the moment he stepped on his campus.  He did not study and ultimately failed most of his classes. The university informed him that he was being kicked out but, instead of returning home, he went to live with other students who were his friends.  

The twin used the tuition money his father gave him on drugs and alcohol.  He continued to enjoy a party life, never revealing to his family that he was no longer a student.  Each year he came home for summer break and then returned to the college campus, pretending he was attending school during the rest of the year.  This went on four years until it was time to graduate.  His friends moved on, but he had nowhere to go. Nor did he have any college money left to spend.  He sadly started to work at a local McDonalds for minimum wage but could not even afford to pay for a place to live.  He felt ashamed and decided to confess his lies to both his brother and father over the phone.  He started with the words “I am a terrible son!”   

The hard-working twin, who just graduated from his college with honors, was disgusted with his brother’s deception and waste of family money.  Much to his shock and outrage, his father did not even let his deceitful son finish talking. He jumped into his car and raced to the McDonalds near the campus.  With arms stretched out wide and a feeling of great joy, he declared, “You’ve made big mistakes, but you are now welcome to come home an honest man.”  After arriving home, the father gave him a welcome home party, found him a job, and gave him the family car to get to work.  

The twin who had always worked hard in college was angry at what he perceived to be a great injustice.  He demanded to know why he should not be so generously rewarded instead of his deceitful brother.  The father replied, “You never traveled down the wrong path.  Your twin brother became separated from our family but has now found his way home and needs our help.” 

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton