A Father's Warning

A Father's Warning

by Margaret Cagle

Joe was a very proud new father.
He had a little newborn baby son.
He never knew he'd have such joy
As when he held this precious one.

Older relatives suggested to him,
"You know, to church you need to go.
You need to raise this boy for God.
It's the right thing to do, you know."

Joe and his wife Jane meant well.
They would go back to church one day,
But now they were young and busy.
They could just stay home and pray.

Joe worked at a bank as a teller.
The bank was just a few miles away.
An unusual nice distinguished man
Came straight to Joe's booth one day.

"I would like to open a new account,"
This man then directly told Joe.
"I have some money I need to deposit,
And surely you can help me, I know."

Joe opened an account for this man,
And when the transaction was done,
He asked, "Joe, do you have children?"
"Yes Sir, I have a little newborn son."

"Take the baby to church, young man.
You need to rear this little son right."
Without waiting for Joe to reply to him,
He left and quickly walked out of sight.

Joe went home and told his wife,
"I think I have a warning from God.
We are starting back to church now,
Or we will face the chastening rod."

Two weeks later this man returned.
"I need to close my account today.
My job is finished in this place.
There is no need for me to stay."

"Maybe he was an angel," thought Joe,
"With a special message sent to me.
I'm just glad we went back to church,
For that's the way that it should be."

Author: MARGARET CAGLE