The Other Side Of Parenting

(My family and I had just watched the movie “The Shack.” There is a scene in the movie where the main character is asked which of his children he would send to Heaven and Hell to prove a point. His answer was to send himself to Hell and save them both. My father and I are discussing the movie while walking out of the theater. There is a lighthearted joke that my sister is the favorite and the “prodigal daughter,” similar to the prodigal son story in the Bible.)

Me: “So, dad: me and [Sister]. Who would you send to Heaven, and who would you send to Hell?”

Dad: “You know the answer to that! I can’t choose! I would choose me!”

Me: “So… you’d go to Heaven?”

Dad: “Ding ding ding! See you on the other side – NOT!”