Father taught son to be honest
TODAY, Father’s Day, we greet and pray for all fathers—good or bad, married, separated, or widowed; wise or otherwise.
*** Let me relate an inspiring story about, J.C. Penney and how his father taught him a lesson that changed his whole outlook in running business. When he was a teenager, Jim worked for a grocery man in Hamilton, Missouri. He liked the work and had plans to make a career of it.
*** One night he came home and proudly told his family about his clever employer. The grocer had a practice of mixing low-quality coffee with the expensive brand, thus increasing his profit. Jim laughed as the related the story during supper.
His father didn’t see anything funny about the practice. “Tell me,” he said, “if the grocer found someone cheating on his goods, do you think he would consider that as just being clever, and laugh about it?”
*** Jim could see his father was disappointed in him. His father instructed him to go to the grocer the next day and collect whatever money due him and tell the grocer he wouldn’t be working for him any longer. Jobs were not plentiful in Hamilton, but Mr. Penney would rather see his son unemployed than be associated with a crooked businessman.
*** It was the father’s firm advice that taught him to be honest and that stuck to his mind. It propelled him to become what he had reached – the owner of “JC Penney,” a well-known dry goods chain in the USA and the country’s leading merchandiser.
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It’s the duty of a father to teach his children to do what’s right and shun what’s wrong. But WHAT IF A FATHER IS NOT GIVING GOOD EXAMPLE?
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Indeed, children can be turned off or scandalized, by the failings and vices of fathers like habitual gambling, drunkenness, womanizing, cruelty, or abusive temper. Despite this, it should be remembered that fathers are not perfect and children owe them, as God’s representatives and heads of the families, some respect and consideration.
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In this light, the book of Sirach puts it thus, “My son, take care of your father when he is old, grieve him not as long as he lives. Even if his mind fails, be considerate with him…For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, it will serve as a sin offering.” (Sirach 3, 2-6).
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HEAD OF FAMILY. God has designed fathers to be the leader in their marriage and the home as St. Paul teaches: “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” (1 Corinthians 11:3).
But headship is service, guidance, direction; not domination!
*** THE LIGHTER SIDE. A father was telling other fathers, “When my wife is angry, she starts shouting at me, my children, and even at our dogs and nobody dares to answer her.”
One of the friends asked, “And when you are angry, what do you do?”
The man replied, “I also shout angrily and none dares to answer back.” “Why?” they asked. “Because the windows and doors of our house cannot answer back.”
*** INDIGENT SICK. I am appealing on behalf of some indigent sick we are helping like Dante Cabansag and Fr. Ruben Mamuad, SVD, who are undergoing hemodialysis thrice weekly. Also M. Maranga, J. Lopez, Rosanna Cayunda sick of pulmonary ailments and hence, cannot work. *** For inquiries, e-mail me at: belsvd@gmail.com.