This reminds me of the story my husband tells of his adventure of running away from home. He decided to run away for no particular reason. He told his big sister that he was going to run away, so she packed a bag for him and put him on a bus. He rode from WV to PA to his aunt’s house. When he got there his aunt called his dad and told him where he was. His dad got on a bus, rude to PA and sat the boy down on the front porch and carried out a normal conversation about the weather, etc. Then he looked at the boy and asked, “You ready to go home now?” and the boy said, “Yeah”. They got on a bus and went home. Dad not saying a word. Boy fearing what would happen when he got home. Dad walked into the house and announced, “We’re home.” Then he walked out to the back yard and built a beautiful soapbox racer and presented it to the boy. Hubby said he had never felt so undeserving and guilty in his life before or since. His father was a preacher and he illustrated the same kind of love that God shows to us. Hubby is also a preacher.
It’s a great story. Patience and extended grace as well.
I wish your father in law was my father!
My own personal experiences were quite different.
Usually, when a child runs away from home, there is a reason.