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![]() By Garry Knighton Church of Christ/North - Shreveport, La. |
HOW CAN I BE THE RIGHT KIND OF FATHER? |
Walk a little plainer, daddy, Said a little boy so frail; I'm following in your footsteps, And I don't want to fail. Sometimes your steps are very plain, Sometimes they are hard to see; So walk a little plainer, daddy, For you are leading me. I know that once you walked this way, Many years ago, And what you did along this way, I'd really like to know. For sometimes when I am tempted, I don't know what to do. So walk a little plainer, daddy, For I must follow you. Some day when I've grown up, You are like I want to be; Then I will have a little boy, Who will want to follow me. And I would want to lead him right And help him to be true; So, please walk a little plainer, daddy, For I must follow you!
I took a piece of plastic clay, And idly fashioned it one day, And as my fingers pressed it still, It moulded, yielded to my will. I came again when days were past, The bit of clay was hard at last, The form I gave it, still it bore, And I could change that form no more. A far more precious thing than clay, I gently formed from day to day, And moulded with God's power and art, A young child's soft and yielding heart. I came again when years were gone, It was a man I looked upon; He still that early impression wore, And man could change him nevermore.
I watched him playing 'round my door, My neighbor's little boy of four. I wondered why a child would choose To wear his dad's old worn out shoes. I saw him try with all his might To make the laces snug and tight. I smiled to see him walk and then, He'd only step right out. I heard him say, his voice was glad, "I want to be just like my dad." I hoped his dad his steps would choose Safe for his son to wear his shoes. And then a shout and cry of joy, A "Hello, Dad," and a "Hi-ya, Boy," They walked along in measured stride, Each face aglow with love and pride. "What have you done today, my lad?" "I tried to wear your old shoes, dad. They're big, but when I'm a man I'll wear your shoes, I know I can." They stopped and stood there hand in hand; He saw his son's tracks in the sand. His words, a prayer, came back to me, "Lord, let my steps lead him to thee!"