A GOOD SON

Friday, June 08, 2007

Reading: Tobit 11:5—15

Tobiah was a good son, and Tobit a good father. They both loved each other. But Tobit had gone blind due to an accidental happening, and it was not until long afterwards that his son Tobiah procured an ointment that cured his father’s blindness.“Blessed be God,” Tobit exclaimed, “praised be his name...”it is he who has had mercy on me. Behold, I now see my son Tobiah!”

There are fathers who do not seem to love their sons. They even refuse to take a good look into the real person that is their son. It is like they choose to be blind when it comes to their sons. They more easily see faults than merits, they see somebody they don’t approve of, they see somebody who doesn’t live up to their expectations. They can go an entire lifetime denying the reality of the person they are embarrassed to even admit being related to. (A few mothers might do that too.) And what a shame it is!

They not only miss out on the unique human being created by God in his image and likeness, they drive away the very ones who want to love them, and who yearn to be loved and approved in return. It seems that many fathers, more so than mothers, never really see their sons. Some don’t seem to see even their daughters.

That’s a good time for parents to pray for an ointment from heaven to be put on the eyes of their souls. They are missing out on the blessings of having a child. “I now see my son,” Tobit said. Oh that all parents could see their children, and love them! No matter what it is that meets their eyes.