Fathering

What do our young children remember most clearly about us? I was highly excited when I came home from the elders' meeting. I had just been invited to join the ranks. I certainly had the desire Paul speaks of (1 Timothy 3:1). Some of the other qualities that go with shepherding had come to the notice of the eldership, especially my visitation of the church family, usually in my own time. This was nothing new. I enjoyed pastoral visitation. In my case, I had adopted the unusual practice (to some of my mates) of spending some of the days of my school holidays, off on my bike visiting some of the shut-ins on our church prayer list, much to their delight as well as my own. The other love I had was that of teaching the Scriptures, which I had engaged in from a young age. My only difficulty was my “blind spot.” My becoming an elder and attaining the status of father both came at a young age. I gave my eldership all I had and most weekends I was engaged all day Saturday preparing a m...