prodigal

Why did the prodigal's father let him leave?
Why did he not go after him?

Election in a Christian Family

A recent incident in my own family has got me thinking about this idea of how Christian families automatically assume that their entire family will be part of the elect. Many of them "make a decision" at a very young age (4 or 5) and then grow up in the bubble of christianity. They go to church, sunday school, youth group, have all christian friends. So what happens when they get older and decide to reject everything they have been taught? How much effort should be given towards winning them back? For how long? Until they are 18 years old? Is it worse to have them consider/call themselves a christian and yet live with obvious sin in their lives or would it be better for them to forgo the label of christian? Are we wasting our time if she is not one of the elect?