Sunday, July 8, 2001
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Sunday, July 8, 2001 |
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On things that matter By DR. KNOX HERNDON
When I run across something as well written as this, I like to pass it on. Paul Harvey is, in my opinion, a great conservative radio announcer best known for his "and now for the rest of the story ..." He writes: "We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better. "I'd really like for them to knowabout hand-me-down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches, I really would. "I hope you learn humility bybeing humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated. "I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawnand wash the car. "And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are 16. "It will be good if at least one timeyou can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep. "I hope you get a black eye fighting for something youbelieve in, I hope you have to share a bedroom with your youngerbrother. "And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers withyou because he's scared, I hope you let him. "When you want to seea movie and your little brother wants to tag along, I hope you'll lethim. "I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your mom. "If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one. "Ihope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books. When you learnto use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in yourhead. "I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a girl, and when you talk back to your mother that youlearn what ivory soap tastes like. "May you skin yourknee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole. "I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend. "I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your grandpa andgo fishing with your uncle. "May you feel sorrow at afuneral and joy during the holidays. I hope your mother punishesyou when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Christmas time when you give her a plastermold of your hand. "These things I wish for you tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness.To me, it's the only way to appreciate life. "Written with a pen.Sealed with a kiss.I'm here for you. And if I die before you do, I'll goto heaven and wait for you." Thank you Paul Harvey for majoring on some of the real aspects of character building. The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon is the pastor of His House Community Church (SBC)and a former Army chaplain. The church is just below Senoia on Ga. Highway 85, a mile on the right just below the fire station. Visitors welcome. Church office and prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail KHERN2365@aol.com.
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