Coming to ourselves – Sunday February 02, 1958
Our thoughts turn today to what, for want of better words, could be called the process of “coming to ourselves.” It is always a heartbreak to parents when children depart from right and respected ways, and it is always a hazard to youth (indeed to anyone—when they rebel against law, against authority, against respectful consideration of counsels and precautions that could save much heartbreak and many mistakes.
We cannot avoid acute sorrow in seeing someone live so as to throw away his best chances for happiness and for high accomplishment in the living of his life. (The prodigal son is, of course, the case most cited of someone who first had “to come to himself” before he could properly appraise the things that forever mean the most).
But if only they could come to themselves sooner—for learning by living the wrong way is difficult and dangerous.
If youth could only better understand the position of parents! If parents could only help them better understand!
Surely it shouldn’t be too difficult for youth to see that there is some value and advantage in the seasoning that parents have had, in judgment, in maturity; and that there are surely some things that parents can save them.
And yet somewhat in every age we have before us the picture of parents praying and pleading, and earnestly seeking to save the next generation from making needless mistakes earnestly trying to teach that happiness, and soundness, and safety and peace are found with respectful love of loved ones, and only within the respectful living of law.
The pleading of parents is not for narrow reasons—but only because of a great love and a great responsibility; only because they want their children to succeed, now and everlastingly in life; only because they want them to have happiness.
This is the only reason the Lord God Himself has given commandments, and the only reason parents pray and plead against youth’s walking in careless or shortsighted ways.
And we would plead this day to those who have turned away from solid counsel, from sound teaching, from waiting homes and yearning hearts, to “come to themselves,” to turn back and not step one step farther down any wrong road.
Thank God for the power of repentance that somehow, sometime, touches and turns those who foolishly or carelessly have followed for a time wrong or wasteful way.
February 02, 1958
Broadcast Number 1,485