Sermon Central
-
Listen, Son: I Am Saying This As You Lie Asleep, ... PRO
Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001 (message contributor)
Listen, son: I am saying this as you lie asleep, one little paw crumpled under your cheek and blond curls stickily wet on your damp forehead. I have stolen into your room alone. Just a few minutes ago, as I sat reading my paper in the library, a stifling wave of remorse swept over me. Guiltily I came to your bedside.
These are the things I was thinking, son: I had been cross to you. I scolded you as you were dressing for school because you gave your face merely a dab with a towel. I took you to task for not cleaning your shoes. I called out angrily when you threw some of your things on the floor.
At breakfast I found fault, too. You spilled things. You gulped down your food. You put your elbows on the table. You spread butter too thick on your bread. And as you started off to play and I made for my train, you turned and waved a hand and called, "Good-bye, Daddy!" and I frowned, and said in reply, "Hold your shoulders back!"
Then it began all over again in the late afternoon. As I came up the road I spied you, down on your knees, playing marbles. There were holes in your socks. I humiliated you before your friends by marching you ahead of me to the house. Socks were expensive, and if you had to buy them you would be more careful! Imagine that, son, from a father!
Do you remember, later, when I was reading in the library, how you came in, timidly, with a sort of hurt look in your eyes? When I glanced up over my paper, impatient at the interruption, you hesitated at the door. "What is it you want?" I snapped.
You said nothing, but ran across in one tempestuous plunge, and threw your arms around my neck and kissed me, and your small arms tightened with an affection that God had set blooming in your heart and which even neglect could not wither...and then you were gone, pattering up the stairs.
Well, son, it was shortly afterwards that my paper slipped from my hands and a terrible sickening fear came over me. What has habit been doing to me? The habit of finding fault, reprimanding--this was my reward to you for being a boy. It was not that I did not love you; it was that I expected too much of youth. It was measuring you by the yardstick of my own years.
And there was so much that was good and fine and true in your character. The little heart of you was as big as the dawn itself over the wide hills. This was shown by your spontaneous impulse to rush in and kiss me goodnight. Nothing else matters tonight, son. I have...
Continue reading this sermon illustration (Free with PRO)Related Sermon Illustrations
-
Spurgeon (1) Wrote, " I Think I May Say To Every ... PRO
Contributed by Michael Raisbeck on Jul 18, 2003
Spurgeon (1) wrote, " I think I may say to every person whom I am addressing,-If you are yourself saved, the work is but half done until you are employed to bring others to Christ. You are as yet but half formed in the image of your Lord. You have not attained to the full development of the ...read more
-
Last Week I Read In The Advice Column In The ... PRO
Contributed by Larry Thompson on Jun 6, 2002
Last week I read in the advice column in the paper about a couple who was celebrating 50 years of marriage. The husband wrote that someone commented, ¡§Ken, 50 years is a long time.¡¨ He immediately responded: ¡§Not nearly as long as it would have been without her.¡¨ I couldn¡¦t get the man¡¦s ...read more
-
For Love Of Jim
Contributed by Bruce Howell on Feb 5, 2005
For Love of Jim Jim and Jack were the best of friends. Devoted. Inseparable. So when Jim lost both his legs in a railroad accident, Jack did everything he could to help. At first Jim was certain his career with the railroad was finished.. Then the company gave him another job¨Csignalman. ...read more
-
Families Are Wonderful. Families Are Challenging. ... PRO
Contributed by Jim Kane on Jun 6, 2002
Families are wonderful. Families are challenging. I am reminded of this every time I see my favorite Cosby Show episode in which Cliff, the father played by Bill Cosby, and Theo, the son played by Malcolm Jamal-Warner, have a chat about Theo’s desire to live like a “regular” person rather than ...read more
-
Adrian Rogers: And Idol Is Anything You Love ... PRO
Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Sep 28, 2002
ADRIAN ROGERS: And idol is anything you love more, fear more, value more or serve more than you do ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Let The Children Come
Contributed by Stephen Sheane on Aug 10, 2010
Jesus said LET the children come, LEARN from them and LOVE them completely.
-
"A Home Where Children Thrive" Series
Contributed by Elvis Burrows on Jun 17, 2013
Children's Day sermon encouraging Parents and Guardians to stay committed and focused to the task of child rearing. The challenge was for parents to do all that they can to raise their children in a manner that pleases God.
-
"A Home Where Children Thrive" Series
Contributed by Elvis Burrows on Jun 17, 2013
Children's Day sermon encouraging Parents and Guardians to stay committed and focused to the task of child rearing. The challenge was for parents to do all that they can to raise their children in a manner that pleases God.
-
"The Tween Age Jesus"
Contributed by Bruce Lee on Jan 14, 2016
Being a teenager is not easy. Parents and family are important. Lord help us to grow in your timing.
-
How To Be A Godly Father / Father's Day
Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jun 19, 2017
Dr. James Dobson, states, "Good fathers are made, not born." Then he goes on to suggest three specific things that a father should incorporate into their lives. Let us look to our Heavenly Father, the perfect Father. Updated June 2022.
