LIVING CHRIST IN THE
FAMILY
===========================
All your sons will be taught by the
Lord, and great will be your children’s
peace. Isaiah 54:13
A frail
old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and
four-year-old
grandson. The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was
blurred, and his step
faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the
elderly grandfather’s
shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult.
Peas rolled off his spoon
onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk
spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated
with the mess. “We must do
something about Grandfather,” said the son. “I’ve
had enough of his spilled
milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.” So the
husband and wife set a
small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate
alone while the rest of the
family enjoyed dinner.
Since Grandfather
had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden
bowl. When the
family glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometimes he had a
tear in his eye
as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him
were sharp
admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old
watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the
father noticed his
son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the
child sweetly, “What
are you making?”
Just as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a
little bowl for you and
Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.” The
four-year-old smiled and went
back to work.
The words so struck the
parents that they were speechless. Then tears started
to stream down their
cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be
done.
That
evening, the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to
the
family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with
the
family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care
any
longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth
soiled.
Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe,
their ears ever
listen, and their minds ever process the messages they
absorb. If they see us
patiently provide a happy, godly home atmosphere, they
will imitate that
attitude for the rest of their lives.
The wise
parent realizes that every day the building blocks are being laid for
their
children’s future.
RESPONSE: Today I will purpose to live a life that
exemplifies to everyone the
love of Jesus…especially in my
home.
PRAYER: Help me, Lord, to be a positive Christ-like impact on
members of the
younger generation.
Larry's family and friends 