He was good to my son – Sunday, June 19, 1955
Have you ever heard a father say of someone: “He was good to my son”? If you have, you have no doubt sensed something that goes far deeper than any ordinary gratitude.
It seems that a man will be everlastingly grateful to someone who “was good to his son.” As parents we appreciate, of course, all the thoughtfulness and favors of our friends, all the kindnesses and courtesies that come from other people.
We are grateful for every help, for every recognition, for every consideration that comes to us from others. But there is a special kind of gratitude, a fervent, deep, undying gratitude reserved for those of whom we can say: “He was good to our son.” “He was good to our children.” We are grateful to teachers who understandingly have eased them over difficult periods.
We are grateful for friends who have helped them find their way into useful work. We are grateful to those who have taken time to listen to them, to understand them, to steady and encourage them. We are unspeakably grateful to those who have helped them over any awkwardness, to those who have helped them avoid making serious mistakes, to those who have helped them to adjust to life in any constructive way.
Words cannot well express how grateful we are to anyone who takes the time and trouble to help a son or a daughter of anyone of us. And since our hearts are so sincerely warm toward those who have been good to our children, would we not expect the Father of us all to turn His blessing and His kindly countenance toward those who have been good to His children? Would we not expect the Father of our spirits, with His infinite love and wisdom, to be grateful to those who are good to His children?
If we want any day to mean much more than it could mean in any other way, we should do something for someone’s son, for someone’s daughter—for some of our eternal Father’s sons or daughters, whom all men are and whom He made in His image—”For God so loved the world, that be gave his only begotten son for the benefit and blessing of all of us.1
“And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these … ye have done it unto me.”2
Blessed among men are those of whom it can be said by the Father of us all: He was good to my son.
1John 3:16
2Matthew 25:40
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June 19, 1955
Broadcast Number 1,348