Mouths of babes

Lift up your eyes

Apresent day poet has written:

You may have thought I didn’t see,

Or that I hadn’t heard,

Life lessons that you taught to me,

But I got every word.

I’ve grown up with your values,

And I’m very glad I did;

So here’s to you, dear father,

From your forever grateful kid.

Sunday was Father’s Day and this column is for fathers. Rather than getting sentimental, I would like to share an article from The Christian Home Builder by Adelaide Blanton entitled “Your Children Watch.” In it children were asked, “What do you like and not like about your father?” Here are the results:

What I like best about my dad

1. Dad goes to Sunday school and takes the whole family.

2. He shows me that he loves me by hugging and kissing me.

3. He teaches me games and plays them with friends and me.

4. He reads and tells me stories.

5. He plays fair, always hearing both sides of a quarrel before deciding.

6. He praises me for good deeds and for good work I do.

7. Dad teaches me to respect mother and he loves her himself.

8. He gives me an allowance of money and pays me for extra work.

9. He tells me interesting stories of his boyhood experiences.

10. He buys good books, educational toys and shows me that he is interested in my school work.

Things I don’t like about my dad

1. He scolds me for doing things he does and says himself.

2. He growls at mother about expenses and things she can’t help.

3. He always says to me, “I’m busy now, don’t bother me.”

4. He demands that he be given the newspaper first, including the comics.

5. Dad has poor table manners; he eats with his knife, belches without apology and doesn’t want to be corrected or told about it.

6. Dad is domineering and bullheaded.

7. He is quick-tempered and “hollers” too much.

8. He always blames others for his faults.

9. He teases and ridicules us children for our fears.

10. Dad isn’t jolly enough; he is always too harsh and stern.

There you are fathers—out of the mouths of babes. Is it possible for fathers to learn from children? What do you think?

Clyde Nichols is a retired minister, having served First Christian Church in Temple for 27 years as senior minister. He is the author of three books of devotionals and writes a religious column for several Texas newspapers, including The Reporter.

“This is the victory that overcomes the world—our faith.” (I John 5:4)