When Dad Disappoints

When Dad Disappoints

When I was a kid, I received a ten-dollar bill that was printed in 1935. I got the bill in 1980-something, and I believed this bill was worth well beyond the face value. I showed it to my dad and asked him to see if he would look into it for me. He said that he would and then proceeded to both forget about it and spend it. I was devastated. Surely he spent my fortune! To make me feel better and to amend for his transgression, he gave me a twenty-dollar bill.

Years later, I rolled up to the house with some breakfast from Chick-fil-A and told my son Cooper that I got him a chicken biscuit. I had already gotten his older brother off to school, via the drive-through, and I’d decided to bring Coop a chicken biscuit and Carson some Chick-n-Minis. Immediately, my wife told me that I had made a mistake, the same mistake I’d made three weeks ago. She said, “Don’t you remember, he wanted the minis three weeks ago and you got on him for not being grateful?”

In all honesty, I didn’t remember. This time, though, Cooper was hurt by my lack of recall. I had disappointed him, and although I was trying to serve him, I hadn’t listened to what he really preferred. Graciously, he moved off to the side to hide his feelings, but I realized that I hadn’t listened to his heart.

Dad, this is going to happen. My dad failed to listen to my heart and remember my request, and I failed to listen to Cooper’s. We all make mistakes in this vein, and I am sure Cooper will do it with his kids too. But I want to remind you that your heavenly Father is always attentive and never forgets your requests.

At the end of a few other potent statements on prayer, James makes this conclusion: “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16). Take your requests to your heavenly Father!

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

James 5:16