Dr. David Jeremiah

 Dr. David Jeremiah.

There was little boy who kept asking his father, “Dad, will you come out to the back yard and help me build a treehouse?” And this boy’s father, always with the best intentions, said, “Sure, son—but later, OK? I’m really busy right now, but we’ll build that treehouse real soon.” Many times, this boy asked his father that question; the answer was always the same.

            But one day, this little boy was hit by a car. As he lay dying in the hospital, one of the last things he said to his dad was, “Well, Dad, I guess we’ll never get to build that treehouse.”

            This is a true story. I officiated at that little boy’s funeral. I talked with his grieving father. And I know that there are two lessons that each of us—myself included—can learn from this story.

            First, if you’re a parent (and especially if you’re a father) you need to recognize that nothing—not the pressure of business nor your community commitments not your church commitments—nothing is more urgent and more important than the relationship you are building with that child. Don’t neglect it.

            Second, understand that you have a Heavenly Father who is always available, always ready to take the time to build a relationship with you. I urge you to take time for those all-important relationships between you and your children—and you and your God.

Dr. Jeremiah-Prayer the Great Adventure