The preacher’s small lesson

CHRISTIAN LIVING TODAY

A preacher sat on the porch as an ice cream vendor drove slowly down the street. The preacher’s small son ran to him and said, “Daddy, give me a quarter.” The preacher pulled out a quarter and flipped it to his son.

The son’s friend was also playing in the yard. The preacher heard the boy say, “Go get a quarter from your Daddy for me.” The preacher’s son said, “You go get it yourself,” and the small friend replied, “But — he’s your Daddy.”

“Go tell him you’re my friend, and ask him for a quarter,” the son said.

The little boy came near the porch where the preacher continued reading his paper. The boys were not aware that the preacher saw them or heard them.

That’s just the way we are with our Father-God: We think we’re handling things all by ourselves, unheard and unobserved.

The small boy looked over at the preacher, who just kept reading.

Finally, he moved closer and said, “My name’s Johnny.”

“Hi, Johnny. My name is Mr. Williams.”

“Yeah, I know,” Johnny said, as he kept his eyes on the preacher’s son. “Mr. Williams? I know you son.”

The preacher said, “Good.” As he listened, the little boy looked down the street and saw the ice cream truck getting closer. Urgency took over and the preacher’s son whispered, “Ask him.”

“Mr. Williams, I am your son’s friend.”

The preacher said, “Good. I’m his friend too.”

Finally, the boy blurted out, “Mr. Williams, will you give me a quarter? Your son said I could ask.” And he held his hand up toward the father, with his face toward his son.

His actions implied the preacher was too big for him, that he has no right or basis on which to approach him for anything. He felt there is no good reason for the preacher to give him anything he asks for — he doesn’t deserve it — but only he has what he needs.

His actions said, “Right now, I have an urgent need, and I know your son. In the name of your son, Fredrick, give me a quarter.”

Friends, God listens. He knows.

When trouble knocks you down, when darkness deepens, when you don’t know what you’re doing or feel all alone, go to God in prayer.

Tell Him, “I do know your Son. I have a need, and in the Name of Your Son, Jesus, I ask You for what I need.” Until next week, Anita Onarecker, an Elgin resident, author of “Divine Appointment: Our Journey to the Bridge” and minister to women and adults, earned a Master of Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007.