I watch the backs of father and son as they walk down the road to home. When last did he walk with his father home? When last was he able to feel the comfort and assurance of being with a father that loves and cares for him? If ever it was a very long time ago. Even now as they walk the father’s attention is on the conversation he is having on the phone, it is almost as if his son were not walking beside him.
As I watch them cross the road, cars baring them from sight, I wonder if my young friend has ever felt the love and companionship of a father that loves him. What, I wonder, is his greatest desire? Is it toys? Sweets? Lots of friends? Money?...I don’t think so. If I were to have access to the deep recess of this young mans heart what would I see? Amidst the reflexes of the muscles pumping I can only imagine the void and emptiness at the very center of his young heart. Every day I see him, trying to fill the void with something…anything. Toys and sweets defiantly don’t fill it. Friends? well, they aren’t always there so it is hard to tell. Money? even if it could fill the empty spot there isn’t any with which to try.
What does a boy like him do? What is running through his mind as he walks home beside his father that seems to care more about some distant person on the phone than the son walking beside him? Maybe it could be that he is wishing to get home to his mothers warm embrace and spend time telling her about the meeting his dad just had with his school principle about his increasingly bad behavior in school. But no, it is doubtful that this could be the case, for mom worked hard all day and will probably be too exhausted to listen to her needy son. But oh! He has two brothers…maybe they will take the time to hear him! No…one is older and acts the oldest sibling trying to be the dad when parents are at work, but the hole never gets filled, and the other is too young to understand. In fact the youngest brother will most likely be sleeping when he gets home, alone, with his father beside him.
How can I help such a child? His need is that of a father not a school teacher (and surely not a girl who of course, "Wouldn't understand') how can we reach out to such a one who lives his life among others yet is always alone? How can we show him that he can have a Father who will always have the time to listen and spend time with him? How can we help him develop a character that will be honorable and godly?
FATHER, give us... give me wisdom!
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