Why I Don’t Share My Prodigal’s Story

Written By Sherian McCoy

When people hear about The Father’s Porch, one of the first things they ask is:

“So… what happened?”

The truth is, I understand the curiosity. I love a good story too. But this one? It’s still unfolding. And more importantly — it’s not mine to tell.

My son and daughter-in-law are real people with real lives. They’re deeply loved, and I want to protect their privacy. This ministry was never about exposing their journey. It’s about navigating mine — and maybe yours, too.

I didn’t write The Father’s Porch to explain what led us here.
I wrote it because no one was talking about what happens after.

No one was talking about the waiting.
No one was talking about the grief, the anger, the prayers that turn into silence, the hope that feels fragile.

And no one was talking about the shame.

Shame takes hold of parents who raised their children in the faith — who prayed, served, brought them to church, and did the very best they could. And then…

Their child chooses a different path.
And that shame whispers: It’s your fault.

So we stay silent.
We isolate.
We shrink our calling and forget who we are.

But I believe God is calling parents out of shame and into freedom —
Not because the situation is fixed.
But because He is still faithful.

I want to shed light on shame.
I want to teach truth from Scripture — about identity, waiting, prayer, and peace.
I want to hold space for those who are still in the messy middle:
The ones who are still praying. Still hoping. Still watching the road.

This isn’t a memoir.
It’s a ministry.

It’s not about one prodigal.
It’s about all of us who sit on the porch with the light still on.

If you’ve been walking this road and wondering if anyone understands — I do.

You don’t have to tell your whole story to belong here.
You just have to be willing to stay, to pray, and to trust that God is still working.

And I’ll be right here with you.

Sherian McCoy

Hi, I’m Sherian Kaneaster-McCoy—storyteller, porch-sitter, ministry founder, wife, mother, grandmother, and follower of Jesus.

I’ve spent the last two decades walking with women through the hard things—grief, chronic illness, prodigal children, burnout, and healing. I serve as a practitioner in Dr. Tracey Stroup’s Eat, Pray, Faith telehealth practice, where I support clients needing help physically as well as emotionally and spiritually. I’m also honored to serve as Dean of Education at the Academy of Abiding Wellness, equipping others to walk in biblical wisdom and holistic health.

Alongside this work, The Father’s Porch has become a sacred space where I pour out the stories God has written on my heart.

This ministry was born from my own journey as a parent of a prodigal and a lifelong porch-praying woman. It’s a space for the weary—a resting place for those still waiting, still hoping, still praying. Through devotional writing, prayer, and gentle truth, I help others find God in the middle of the story, not just at the end.

Whether I’m telling stories from Scripture or sharing pieces of my own life, I believe in the power of honest words and porchlight hope. The porch is open. The light is on. There’s always a seat for you.

https://www.selahnaturalhealth.com
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Why I wrote the Father’s Porch