The phone rang just as he sat down to enjoy one of his favorite meals. It was one of the husbands at church. His wife had just been admitted to the hospital after having been rushed to the hospital emergency room. As was the usual procedure, he finished the conversation and stepped back into the dining area and told his wife he had to miss supper again and head on over to the hospital. It was a long drive and he'd probably not get back home til late. He'd grab a burger on the road.
If she knew, she would not have complained to some other ladies at church that he had not visited her today after she had that elective surgery to have that aggravating wart on her finger removed.
He got home after midnight, tired and worn out not just from driving but from praying with the husband over his wife and consoling bunches of family members. He grabbed a quick glass of milk, brushed his teeth and got down to say his nightly prayers. He dreaded it but tomorrow would be a busy day. It was Wednesday and he had not even started on his weekly sermon.
The course of study was grueling but he was forced to take it in order keep up with what he needed to do to maintain his ministry position. A book to finish reading and a paper to write before Saturday loomed on his horizon. He would finish on time though.....it's just the way it was unfolding.
If they knew, they would not complain about his spending "too much time" at home.
He had just finished reading the last chapter of the assigned reading and was about to start on his paper when the phone rang again. The secretary at church was calling about a man that had showed up at church. Destitute, dirty, hungry and desparate, the man was begging for help. He switched off his computer and got dressed and headed to the church. The man was waiting there and after the usual questioning and consolations, left with fifty dollars he had not had when he arrived. It was from the pastor's pocket. He got to bed after midnight...again.
If they knew, they wouldn't squabble so much about his salary come budget time each year. If they knew, they would not complain behind his back about sermons involving tithing.
Sunday arrived and God as usual had placed wonderful, soothing words into his mouth. As the people were filing out, many of them complimented his words and told him how inspiring they had been. All smiles, all filled with joy. They were looking forward to next Sunday.
If they only knew...............
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Dad Hopes
My youngest son has a friend in prison right now. He and his wife are going to visit this friend this Thursday. We were discussing it last night and I told him how proud I was of them deciding to go there and visit. It is, after all, one of the things Jesus told us to do.
Our conversation led to a discussion about where or how did his friend's parents go wrong. I mentioned, that parenting doesn't have a handbook and lots of times, it is not to be blamed on the parents. Sometimes, when a person leaves home, the world just grabs hold of them and won't let go. Sometimes, it's hanging out with the wrong crowd and sometimes it's heartbreaks or fear that leads one further into trouble. My son feels like his friend's parents babied the guy too much. He talked about how the mother even used to call in sick for his buddy so he wouldn't have to go to school or go to work. He mentioned his friend did not have much of a relationship with his dad...it seems that his dad was always working....even though he is a very good man; you know...Christian and all that jazz.
This of course led us to talking about "tough love". You've heard of it before. It's when a parent allows the child to experience the results or consequences of a mistake and enforces that child to take responsibility for their actions. That leads to learning, that leads to character building.
My son wanted to know how a father should learn to administer tough love. Again, no handbook. I told him he has to be very careful to make sure that the situation calls for it. If it's given under the wrong circumstances, it could hurt more than help. God is a lot like that. It's where that old saying probably comes from, you know. It's the one where we say "God will not make me endure more than what He knows I can take." Some of us need to have more tough love than others. I know...I am one.
Pray for my son as his son turns one year old this month. And pray for parents that don't know the consequences of holding back tough love.
Our conversation led to a discussion about where or how did his friend's parents go wrong. I mentioned, that parenting doesn't have a handbook and lots of times, it is not to be blamed on the parents. Sometimes, when a person leaves home, the world just grabs hold of them and won't let go. Sometimes, it's hanging out with the wrong crowd and sometimes it's heartbreaks or fear that leads one further into trouble. My son feels like his friend's parents babied the guy too much. He talked about how the mother even used to call in sick for his buddy so he wouldn't have to go to school or go to work. He mentioned his friend did not have much of a relationship with his dad...it seems that his dad was always working....even though he is a very good man; you know...Christian and all that jazz.
This of course led us to talking about "tough love". You've heard of it before. It's when a parent allows the child to experience the results or consequences of a mistake and enforces that child to take responsibility for their actions. That leads to learning, that leads to character building.
My son wanted to know how a father should learn to administer tough love. Again, no handbook. I told him he has to be very careful to make sure that the situation calls for it. If it's given under the wrong circumstances, it could hurt more than help. God is a lot like that. It's where that old saying probably comes from, you know. It's the one where we say "God will not make me endure more than what He knows I can take." Some of us need to have more tough love than others. I know...I am one.
Pray for my son as his son turns one year old this month. And pray for parents that don't know the consequences of holding back tough love.
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