Many years ago, in Missouri a preacher had two sons, and those two boys found a little dog in their town and brought it home. They asked their preacher daddy if they could keep it and the preacher liked it too. So, the daddy said they could keep it. The little dog was black and had some small streaks of white near its tail. A new family had moved into town that week and were looking for their little black dog they lost with little white stripes on its tail. The daddy told the boys to put black shoe polish on the white streaks to hide them from this new family. The new family came by to ask about the dog and the preacher told the man that it must not be his dogs since it has no white streaks near its tail. So, the man said “I guess it is not our dog” and left, as the preacher gave the stolen dog to his boys. Those to boys were Jesse and Frank James who would become some of the most notorious outlaws in U.S. history. You see dad, listen close, that daddy kept a dog and lost two sons!
My mother has told me many times to watch what I say and do in front of my children. They listen closely, and they will repeat all that you say because you are their highest example in life. In fact, on many occasions she has said to me “little mice have big ears,” referring to how closely our children watch and listen to us. My dear mothers and fathers, I implore you to be the example that your children can look up to with integrity and godliness. The outcome of your testimony at home will be seen publicly with your children. Pastor Mark