I’ve always loved you!’ That’s the first time I ever remember my mother say ing she loved me.” The woman had been involved in many patterns of life which were not of the highest char acter and chastity. One of her real hungers was to be loved. There are some children who do not remember that their father and mother ever took them around the shoulders and gave them a quiet hug. Have you ever told your child, “You’re so sweet. I’m glad the Lord gave you into our home.” Many a father restrains himself in tell ing his boy, “I’m so glad you’re my son. The Lord has been good to give you to us. We love you.” A minister, troubled, burdened and sorrowing came to my office one day, broken hearted. His child, a teenage girl, was found with child out of wed lock. He wanted to know if he should resign; was his ministry ruined? He said, “You know we were so busy about many things that we didn’t take time for our children. Our daughter has sought companionship somewhere else. Now she has an illegitimate child. What must I do?” I said, “The first thing you must do is to love her tender ly. She needs your care, not your ostra cism.” We prayed and he decided and vowed that he would become the kind of a father, even in this tragic crisis, that he ought to have been all along. I related this to my wife and daughter without mentioning any names. Daugh ter was frying some potatoes and onions in the kitchen. I went out to speak to her quietly. I said, “My dear, I hope and pray you will be protected and guided by our dear Saviour, so that you’ll never fall into this kind of sin. But if you do, I shall love you, my child, until you die.” She kissed me on the forehead and said, “Father, that’s one of the reasons why it’s such a joy to live in this home. Here we are all loved.” What a priceless treasure. My boys all used to make a “chug.” That is made from an old broken down washing machine. It is put on a board with four wheels and chugs down the alley. You could probably crawl down the alley faster than the thing co*uld
go, but it was a lot of fun. Are you interested in that which interests your children? Some day those sons, because you helped them when they were little boys, will listen to you when you give them advice on moral problems and a direction for life which is based upon the Word of God. Chapter Seven I n the New Testament there are some very glorious experiences recorded between men who had affection one for another. Perhaps most outstanding is that of the aged Apostle for his son in the Lord, Timothy. The Holy Spirit caused Paul to write, “Unceasingly I remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see thee, remem bering thy tears, that I may be filled with joy.” It was because of this atmosphere Timothy grew to be a strong man in Jesus Christ. The love of a father for his son has kept many a boy steadfast. Conversely, the lack of it has turned many a son away from Jesus Christ. Our heavenly Father expects us to love our children. A young man came to me one Satur day morning. He had waited several weeks until he was sure I was home. His first remark was, “You’ll probably think I’m a silly kid. You see, I want to run away from home. I don’t think my father loves me. He’s never ever told me he loves me. I know my moth er Joves me and I’m afraid if I’d run away it would break her heart. My father wouldn’t care. He’s always yack ing at me, anyway. Dr. Smith, I’m not a bad boy. Oh, maybe I don’t keep myself as orderly as I should, I don’t study as much as I should, and some of those other little things, but I’m not a bad boy. I remember the time I went to a youth rally. When they gave the invitation I thought I loved the Lord, but I decided maybe I didn’t because of the way my father talked to me. So I went forward, kneeling, and I found again the quiet assurance that Jesus 10
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