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'THE FATHER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN HAS GREAT JOY; HE WHO HAS A WISE SON DELIGHTS IN HIM.' PROVERBS 23:24
Dad, read this: 'For years I poked and prodded Gordon, my oldest son, to get higher grades. I was always a little disappointed in him because he never quite measured up to my standard of excellence. One day when Gordon was a senior in High School we were invited to an awards assembly. Clearly he was going to be awarded for something, but I couldn't imagine what. Had they invited us to fill seats? I thought we would have to sit here and see every student marching up the aisle, getting applause, while my son sat at the back of the room. Why didn't he try harder? My attitude grew steadily worse. Then the principal came to the microphone and announced: "For the first time, I am presenting a special award to a young man who's been so exceptional that we couldn't overlook his accomplishments!" He called Gordon to the front, then spent several minutes describing my son's fine character, kindness toward others, trustworthiness, and quiet leadership. "We've never had a student like Gordon in our school," he said, "and there may never be another. We're giving you, Gordon, the first and possibly last Principal's Cup Award for integrity, diligence and decency. Thank you for what you've brought to our school. No-one who really knows you will ever be the same again." In that moment I realised he was talking to me. I had never really known my son, much less appreciated him for who he was. And I knew that once I did, I - his father - would never be the same again.'
Word for Today 17 June 2007 – www.ucb.co.uk
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