Why Dad?
Why Dad?
“Why can’t I go sledding on Hill Street with the other kids?” Ken begged at supper one night as he watched the snow coming down and covering the ground.
“Everybody else is allowed to go sledding there. I know you think it’s dangerous, but I don’t see why! There are hardly any cars on that street.
Besides, the drivers usually go real slow. Matt’s dad says they know kids like to play there.”
Dad leaned back in his chair. “Well, Ken, that may be true,” he said, “but when I was a boy I had a bad experience on one of the hilly streets in our town.
Didn’t I ever tell you about that?” Ken shook his head. “We all would go sledding there,” continued Dad. “Halfway between the top and bottom of the hill was a cross-street,
and we always had someone watching there to tell us whether or not the ‘coast was clear.’ One day as I was going down the hill on my sled, the lookout told me no cars were coming.
But just as I reached that intersection, a truck reached it, too. I was going fast, and there was no way I could stop. There was no way that truck could stop either, because the streets were slippery.
And you know, I slipped right under him, missing the tires by inches. Even now I can remember the fear, knowing how close I was to being killed—or at least seriously injured.
That’s why I don’t want you sledding on the street. There may not be many cars, but it takes only one for a serious accident to happen.”
“Wow, Dad, I never heard that story!” Ken exclaimed. “I can see now why you made that rule for me.”
Dad smiled. “Parents usually have good reasons for the rules they make,” he told Ken. “Sometimes you can understand them, and sometimes you can’t.
The real test, Ken, is when you don’t understand my reason but are still willing to obey me. The Bible says children are to listen to their parents’ judgments and respect them.
When you obey your parents, you’re obeying God, too.”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you become angry about the rules your dad and mom make for you? If you don’t understand why they’ve made a certain rule, ask them nicely to explain it to you.
If you still can’t understand, or if you don’t agree with their thinking, remember that God says it’s your responsibility to respect and obey those rules.
TODAY’S KEY VERSE:
(Proverbs 1:8 M) ”My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.”