“The deeper meaning of the ‘return of the prodigal son’ is the return to God’s womb, the return to the very origins of being, and again echoes Jesus’ exhortation to Nicodemus to be reborn from above… The parable of the prodigal son… is the first and everlasting love of a God who is Father as well as Mother.” — Henri Nouwen, Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith

“God is the fullness of every parental role — creator, provider, nurturer, protector — regardless of whatever gender categories we assign to them.” Mandy Smith, Unfettered