Note: The words below are the imagination of the author and the intention of the author is to leave some food for thought on the reader’s personal and family life. The characters in this story are purely fictional.
It was Saturday afternoon. I stood there at the doorstep. My voice echoed. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in” (Rev 3:20)
The door was slightly open. I could see the hallway through the opening. I knocked a couple of times. No one answered. My curiosity got the better of me. I could see my name on the wall plaque, written in beautiful bold letters, “Christ is the Head of this home”. The voice echoed again. “…Christ is the head…” (Eph 5:23) “…that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Col 1:18)
Ahh….so, it was my home after all!!!! Alright, so I entered the living room. The maid was quietly dusting the furniture. Everything was elegantly arranged. Seemed like a nice family! I walked further. I saw a door that led to the study. The husband, Bobby was working on some bills from his company. He was neatly arranging them and accounting them in this book. An organized guy eh? I like my children to be that way. I went and glanced over his shoulder. The book was neat. I roughly scanned the entries. Perfect! Hmmm…I should be giving Bobby the ministry of handling the accounts of the Bethel Church (which Bobby and family attended). “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household” (Luk 12: 42)
I heard his wife call out to him, “Lunch is served”. “Coming” he said. Katie and Chris came running and seated themselves on the table. Bobby soon joined them. Two chairs were vacant. I sat on one of them, hoping to enjoy their time of fellowship together. Chris said, “Daddy, I want the robojet, like the one Jay has, for my birthday next week!” Bobby grunted and took a morsel. Soon plates were being passed around. Mary and Bobby were talking of about the pastor’s wife and the neighbors next door. “Judge not, that ye be not judged… And why beholdest thou the mote that is in they brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Mat 7: 1-2)
Katie and Chris were fidgeting with their forks. I sat there silently. They were oblivious of my presence. No one even thanked me for the blessing of a rich and happy meal. Thankfully the meal was soon over, or else the seed of contempt would have been sown in the hearts of the children.
Bobby sank into the recliner, turned on the TV and put on his favorite serial. There were people laughing. Was this amusing! I went to sit beside him. As I expected, he could not feel me sitting there. However, the characters did have a good sense of humor! Mary was on the phone. She soon joined him. She flicked through the channels, while telling Bobby, “That was Mr. Rice asking for a contribution for his son’s ministry in Turkey. I do have some money saved for the diamond necklace that I so wanted. But I don’t feel it’s a dire need for now. What do you think?” “It’s up to you dear. I know you’ve wanted the necklace for quite some time now. Moreover, there will definitely be others to pay for that need.” Right! I sure hope they save for heaven the same way. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Mat 6: 19-21)
Loud music came up. Mary seemed to be interested in the music video. The moment she chose to watch it, I had to get up and walk away with a heavy heart. “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity;” (Ps 119:37)
I went to the porch, and found some magazines there. Before I could pick them to have a look, I heard Katie say, “Dad, mom, I’m going out to the mall. I’m taking the car keys”. I could see that she was so confident that she did not bother to ask me for travel mercies. There she was, opening the door. I couldn’t believe what I just saw! If I had given this child to that childless couple in Bethel, they would have been more accountable and taught Katie to dress more modestly. Nothing grieved me more! “I will… that… women adorn themselves in modest apparel” (I Tim 2:8,9)
Chris was playing with his toys in the pen. Suddenly, he ran to his parents, as if he had been hit by a bolt of lightening. “Mommy, what day is tomorrow?” “It’s a Sunday, honey”.
“Do I really have to go to Sunday school, tomorrow? I have practice tomorrow. Why doesn’t Jay have to go to Sunday school?”
“Well, it’s just a matter of an hour until 11, honey. We’ll drop you off at practice also.”
“No, Mommy, you do not understand!, practice gets over by 11 am and I do not want to miss it. Then I will never get to be a good baseball player.”
“Alrite, then” Bobby replied. “You can go for practice, tomorrow.”
Chris ran back, jumping and shouting. Hmm… so practice was more important than going to Sunday school! How will I help Chris achieve his dreams, if neither he nor his parents, set their priorities right! I suppose he will have to learn the hard way. I wish his parents would have guided him to give more priority to the matters of my kingdom, and set apart at least one day of the week completely for me. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Mat 6:33). “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exo 20:8)
I slumped down on the porch, outside. The magazines were there. I was deeply weary of what I was observing and I had not further nerve to see what was in them. The only relief was to see my other creatures, in the garden, praising me. I could feel the breath of awe they took as their Master stood amongst them. The green leaves stooped down in adoration.
I heard Bobby on the phone. “I’ll be there in a jiffy.” He rushed out with the ledger and the bills. I managed to get inside his wife’s car, as he drove away. He rushed to the counter and handed over the stuff with him. The cashier was cross-checking the entries. He stopped at figure and asked, “Is this a 6 or a 0?” Bobby said, “It’s a six”. No! Wait I thought. I thought I had seen a figure of $1003 on the bill. The cashier checked for figure on the bill. To my amazement, it also showed a figure of $1603. I was furious! I knew what to do. I was terribly disappointed that I had lost a prospective steward of my house. “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” (Luk 16:11)
I did not return, the way I had come. I was sure, an unwanted guest at Bobby’s home. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Prov 15:3 )
It was Saturday afternoon. I stood there at the doorstep. My voice echoed. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in” (Rev 3:20)
The door was slightly open. I could see the hallway through the opening. I knocked a couple of times. No one answered. My curiosity got the better of me. I could see my name on the wall plaque, written in beautiful bold letters, “Christ is the Head of this home”. The voice echoed again. “…Christ is the head…” (Eph 5:23) “…that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Col 1:18)
Ahh….so, it was my home after all!!!! Alright, so I entered the living room. The maid was quietly dusting the furniture. Everything was elegantly arranged. Seemed like a nice family! I walked further. I saw a door that led to the study. The husband, Bobby was working on some bills from his company. He was neatly arranging them and accounting them in this book. An organized guy eh? I like my children to be that way. I went and glanced over his shoulder. The book was neat. I roughly scanned the entries. Perfect! Hmmm…I should be giving Bobby the ministry of handling the accounts of the Bethel Church (which Bobby and family attended). “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household” (Luk 12: 42)
I heard his wife call out to him, “Lunch is served”. “Coming” he said. Katie and Chris came running and seated themselves on the table. Bobby soon joined them. Two chairs were vacant. I sat on one of them, hoping to enjoy their time of fellowship together. Chris said, “Daddy, I want the robojet, like the one Jay has, for my birthday next week!” Bobby grunted and took a morsel. Soon plates were being passed around. Mary and Bobby were talking of about the pastor’s wife and the neighbors next door. “Judge not, that ye be not judged… And why beholdest thou the mote that is in they brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Mat 7: 1-2)
Katie and Chris were fidgeting with their forks. I sat there silently. They were oblivious of my presence. No one even thanked me for the blessing of a rich and happy meal. Thankfully the meal was soon over, or else the seed of contempt would have been sown in the hearts of the children.
Bobby sank into the recliner, turned on the TV and put on his favorite serial. There were people laughing. Was this amusing! I went to sit beside him. As I expected, he could not feel me sitting there. However, the characters did have a good sense of humor! Mary was on the phone. She soon joined him. She flicked through the channels, while telling Bobby, “That was Mr. Rice asking for a contribution for his son’s ministry in Turkey. I do have some money saved for the diamond necklace that I so wanted. But I don’t feel it’s a dire need for now. What do you think?” “It’s up to you dear. I know you’ve wanted the necklace for quite some time now. Moreover, there will definitely be others to pay for that need.” Right! I sure hope they save for heaven the same way. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Mat 6: 19-21)
Loud music came up. Mary seemed to be interested in the music video. The moment she chose to watch it, I had to get up and walk away with a heavy heart. “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity;” (Ps 119:37)
I went to the porch, and found some magazines there. Before I could pick them to have a look, I heard Katie say, “Dad, mom, I’m going out to the mall. I’m taking the car keys”. I could see that she was so confident that she did not bother to ask me for travel mercies. There she was, opening the door. I couldn’t believe what I just saw! If I had given this child to that childless couple in Bethel, they would have been more accountable and taught Katie to dress more modestly. Nothing grieved me more! “I will… that… women adorn themselves in modest apparel” (I Tim 2:8,9)
Chris was playing with his toys in the pen. Suddenly, he ran to his parents, as if he had been hit by a bolt of lightening. “Mommy, what day is tomorrow?” “It’s a Sunday, honey”.
“Do I really have to go to Sunday school, tomorrow? I have practice tomorrow. Why doesn’t Jay have to go to Sunday school?”
“Well, it’s just a matter of an hour until 11, honey. We’ll drop you off at practice also.”
“No, Mommy, you do not understand!, practice gets over by 11 am and I do not want to miss it. Then I will never get to be a good baseball player.”
“Alrite, then” Bobby replied. “You can go for practice, tomorrow.”
Chris ran back, jumping and shouting. Hmm… so practice was more important than going to Sunday school! How will I help Chris achieve his dreams, if neither he nor his parents, set their priorities right! I suppose he will have to learn the hard way. I wish his parents would have guided him to give more priority to the matters of my kingdom, and set apart at least one day of the week completely for me. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Mat 6:33). “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exo 20:8)
I slumped down on the porch, outside. The magazines were there. I was deeply weary of what I was observing and I had not further nerve to see what was in them. The only relief was to see my other creatures, in the garden, praising me. I could feel the breath of awe they took as their Master stood amongst them. The green leaves stooped down in adoration.
I heard Bobby on the phone. “I’ll be there in a jiffy.” He rushed out with the ledger and the bills. I managed to get inside his wife’s car, as he drove away. He rushed to the counter and handed over the stuff with him. The cashier was cross-checking the entries. He stopped at figure and asked, “Is this a 6 or a 0?” Bobby said, “It’s a six”. No! Wait I thought. I thought I had seen a figure of $1003 on the bill. The cashier checked for figure on the bill. To my amazement, it also showed a figure of $1603. I was furious! I knew what to do. I was terribly disappointed that I had lost a prospective steward of my house. “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” (Luk 16:11)
I did not return, the way I had come. I was sure, an unwanted guest at Bobby’s home. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Prov 15:3 )
“Behold, I come quickly…to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Rev 22: 12)
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