There was a story that appeared years ago in the
Christian Reader called "Priceless Scribbles." It was about a father who touched
his child's life in an unexpected way. A young boy watched as his father walked
into the living room. The boy noticed that his younger brother, John, began to
cower slightly as his father entered. The older boy sensed that John had done
something wrong. Then he saw from a distance what his brother had done. The
younger boy had opened his father's brand new hymnal and scribbled all over the
first page with a pen.
Staring at their father fearfully, both brothers
waited for John's punishment. Their father picked up his prized hymnal, looked
at it carefully and then sat down, without saying a word. Books were precious to
him; he was a minister with several academic degrees. For him, books were
knowledge. What he did next was remarkable. Instead of punishing his son,
instead of scolding, or yelling, his father took the pen from the little boy's
hand, and then wrote in the book himself, alongside the scribbles that John had
made.
Here is what that father wrote: "John's work, 1959,
age 2. How many times have I looked into your beautiful face and into your warm,
alert eyes looking up at me and thanked God for the one who has now scribbled in
my new hymnal. You have made the book sacred, as have your brother and sister to
so much of my life."
The author of the story, now an adult, goes on to say
how that hymnal became a treasured family possession, how it was tangible proof
that their parents loved them, how it taught the lesson that what really matters
is people, not objects; patience, not judgment; love, not anger.
"And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to
wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Eph. 6:4)
Alan Smith
Innisfil, ON, Canada
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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