A Boy Writes His Dad
Sometime ago while associated with a fine gospel preacher and veteran of the cross, this preacher received a letter from his son and he asked me to read it. After reading it I asked his permission to reproduce it in part. The letter follows:
Dear Dad,
"I know that I should have written you long before now and the more I think of it, the more ashamed I am. Many times a son feels a way toward his dad, and all along he tries to put it into words but there is something that prevents it. This is a boy's testimonial to his dad.
"As I look back on my adolescence when we were so close and all we had was each other, I am proud that I had you for a dad. There have been times that I have disagreed with your decisions and at times I thought you whipped me unfairly, but on other occasions I believe I should have received twice the whipping I received. So looking back I think I got a pretty fair shake. Basically there are four things that I am most thankful for. Number one is the lack of money. You didn't have enough money to over-indulge me and I think I am a better man for it now. Second, is the tremendous courage in the face of adversity. When everything that you had was wiped clean you still had the courage to come back. Third, is the wonderful and consuming faith in God. This has been your trait that helped me most. In time of my beginning to doubt there is a greater being than the inspiration of the Bible, I would look back and see you looking in the face of death with such calm that I would know that dad had something to base his faith upon, and I too would find it if only I would strive to find it, and I did. Last of all I am thankful than you married________. Another such a sweet and wonderful woman doesn't exist.
Even with the love you gave me I would probably have ended up a "no good" if it had not been for the understanding, love and warmth of ________. "I don't know if you have known the closeness and love that I felt for you in the past. My only wish is our love and closeness will continue and there will never be an, animosity between us as is sometimes evident between father and son. - - - - One thing that I have always regretted is that we haven't gone fishing and hunting together enough. I have never resented it because I know how important your work is and nothing should interfere with it -----.
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"Well that's about all I have from here now, so here's wishing you a great success on your tour and may God keep you safe till we see you again. And as another saying goes, May your days be sunny and the wind to your back and may God keep you in the palm of his hand."
Your loving son.