No one can measure the influence of a father on his children, and that is all the more reason to take the job and its responsibilities seriously.
A little girl followed her father as he carefully stepped through a new garden. She stepped precisely where he stepped and said, “Daddy, if you don’t get mud on your feet, I won’t get any mud on me!”
Someone has written, “Last night my little boy confessed to me some childish wrong; and kneeling at my knee, he prayed with tears, ‘O Lord, make me a man like Daddy—wise and strong. I know you can.’ Then while he slept, I knelt beside his bed, confessed my sins, and prayed with low-bowed head, ‘O God, make me a child like my child here; pure, guileless, trusting thee with faith sincere.’ “ (from A Treasury of Bible Illustrations Copyright © 1995, 1998 by AMG International, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by Permission.)
The story is told of four ministers who discussed the pros and cons of various Bible translations and paraphrases. Eventually, each stated which version, in his opinion, was the best. The first minister said he used King James because the Old English style is beautiful and produces the most respectful picture of the Holy Scriptures. The second said he preferred the New American Standard Bible because he felt it comes nearer to the original Greek and Hebrew texts. The third minister said his favorite was the paraphrased Living Bible because his congregation was young, and it related to them in a practical way.
All three men waited while the fourth minister sat silently. Finally, he said, “I guess when it comes to translations and paraphrased editions of the Bible, I like my Dad’s translation best. He put the Word of God into practice every day. It was the most convincing translation I’ve ever seen.”
These illustrations show that fathers being good examples is more precious than the greatest diamond stone ever found. Without good examples and good relationships between fathers and children, there is little hope for our communities, city, country, and world. “He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.” (Malachi 4:6; NASU)
