Take heed the story of the older son
With work and sweat and thankless servanthood
To watch his Father take off on a run
and wrap his arms around a heart of wood.

With scabs of faithfulness upon his brow
and blisters where the ring’s supposed to be
He watches with his hand still on the plow
As Jacob falls upon their Father’s knee

What’s this? The Father wants the fatted calf?
The one I’ve raised since she was born in May?
The elder shakes with rage upon his staff
How can he disrespect me in this way?

Yes, Jesus was an older brother too
With thankless servanthood for me and you.