He Made the Right Choice

​George really loves his three sons and he also really loves scouting.  As a teenager he significantly grew through his scouting experience and remembers the pride on his father’s face when he made Eagle Scout.  If circumstances were different he would still be a scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts.  When his oldest son, Hal, was in the scouts, George invested time in him so he was able to compete and do well against older boys.  But Hal got to a place where he didn’t enjoy scouting and wanted out.  He shared with his mom Shannon his desire to quit and she felt the stress of wanting to help him while knowing how passionate George was about his sons becoming Eagle Scouts.  

​On a campout, George noticed the tension and angry words between a father and his son who was close to becoming an Eagle Scout but who also had reached a place where he did not enjoy camping.  George saw in the other dad what kind of father he would become if he broke Hal’s spirit and forced him to do something against his will. So he made the tough choice to let Hal quit.  Afterward, his younger sons also stopped participating and George had to give us his dream of them becoming Eagle Scouts.  
 
Meditation
Proverbs 23:19—Listen, my son, and be wise; keep your mind on the right course.
 
Some might criticize George for not keeping his sons in scouting and teaching them to be finishers.  But I believe George is a wise father.  He kept his mind on the right course.  He knew it was better to have a healthy relationship with his boys and not break their spirits than to force his will and make them take a course that was ultimately not critical.  Better love sacrifices what is temporal for what is eternal.  George would rather have his sons know he loves them and is respectful of their desires and avoid stoking unnecessary resentment.  Today all his boys love the Lord and have taken the better course of following their Heavenly Father just as their dad does.  George may not be camping as much but he could not be more proud of his sons.
 
Inspiration
We should not forget that many children have been turned from God by Christians who have acted in a harsh or insensitive manner towards them . . .—Ralph Neighbour, Jr. in Where Do We Go From Here
 
©2013 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)