ONLINE CHURCH BULLETIN

THE ONE THE FATHER LOVES THE MOST

A professor of mine once told the following story: I'm one of thirteen children. One day when I was playing in the street of our hometown, I got thirsty and came into the house for a glass of water. My father had just come home from work to have lunch. He was sitting at the kitchen table with a neighbor. A door separated the kitchen from the pantry and my father didn't know I was there.

The neighbor said to my father, "Joe, there's something I've wanted to ask you for a long time. You have thirteen children. Out of all of them is there one that is your favorite, one you love more than all the others"

I had my ear pressed against the door hoping against hope that it would be me. "That's easy," my father said. "That's Mary, the twelve-year-old. She just got braces on her teeth and feels so awkward and embarrassed that she won't go out of the house anymore. Oh, but you asked about my favorite, That's my twenty-three-year-old Peter. His fiance just broke their engagement, and he is desolate. But the one I really love the most is little Michael. He's totally uncoordinated and terrible in any sport he tries to play. But ofcourse, the apple of my eye is Susan. Only twenty-four, living in her own apartment, and developing a drinking problem. I cry for Susan. But I guess of all the kids..." and my father went on, mentioning each of his thirteen children by name.

The professor ended his story by saying: "What I learned that day was that the one my father loved the most was the one who needed him the most at the time."

Isn't that the way OUR Father is: He loves those the most who need him most, who rely on Him, depend on Him, and trust Him in every thing? Little does He care how much money you have, where you live, or any other social status we deem important. It makes no difference if you're the purest of the pure or the chiefest of sinners. All that matters is trust' Don't you think that's what Solomon had in mind when he wrote: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3: 5-6.

by Tim Woodward
Smithville Church of Christ