In the Father’s Hands

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“But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” – Acts 7:55

Where a man belongs is up early and alone with God seeking vision and direction for his family.
—John Piper
  
 

 The crowd was thick and the people were not moving. There was a commotion in the streets as the horses drew near to the scene. I saw a women pushing her way to the front of the crowd and then I heard screaming. Being the youngest in our family I was small enough to move through the adults that were standing around. I became separated from my father's hand, but my curiosity drove me to press forward. As I came upon an opening, I caught a glimpse of the scene. The woman was kneeling in the middle of this crowd, holding a teenage boy to her chest. There were four policemen standing behind her, next to their horses. People were talking and giving different stories of what had happened when a hush fell over the crowd.

  Then the crowd began to part. A large towering man was walking toward the scene and I heard one of the policeman say to another, "Who's that?" His partner responded, "It's the dad". As the man came upon the woman and boy, he did not say a word. He knealt down, tears upone his face, put one hand under the boys knees and the other under his shoulders. Standing up again, he turned and began walking away. The boy's voice was quiet but audible non the less, "I knew you would come Daddy. It hurts so bad." The father's voice cracked as he looked into the blood stained face of his son, "I've got you now, it's going to be okay."

  As they walked away, a policeman grabbed his arm. "Sir, you can't take him. We have to fill out the reports, please - just wait for the ambulance" A stern look from a furrowed brow answered the officer without any words being used. With that the man turned with his son in his arms and walked back up the hill to the hospital entrance, where he demanded that his son be treated, regardless of his color. You see in 1956 a person of color couldn't just walk into a hospital and receive treatment. Regardless of the intent of the policemen to place blame on the boy or on the boy's who had drug him behind their truck; this father was going to ensure his son was taken care of.

  As father's we are chartered with the job of leading our families in a way that demonstrates the love of God in a way that clearly establishes a foundation that will last. We look to our fathers for loving discipline to teach us right from wrong; for ethical guidance to carry on a legacy from generation to generation; for leadership in decision making to frame our independence and for strength to make it through the struggles we will face in life. A father brings vision to a family and when led by God's wisdom and courage will ensure that his children experience the love, peace and enduring grace of the Savior.


 

 

 

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