Randy Suits

Daddy Did I Do Good

A man had three son’s ages 14, 12 and 4 who spent the afternoon inside on a rainy day. When they became bored, their father suggested that each of them draw and color a picture of their favorite animal. The firstborn drew a picture of a horse reared up fearlessly on his hind hoofs snorting in power. The 12 year old drew a picture of a lion, his mane flowing in the air as he was chasing prey. The four year old sketched a young lamb as best he could, such that his father, not knowing for certain what his son had drawn wisely asked him, “Son describe for me your picture.” The youngest said, “It’s a newborn lamb. In Sunday school, I learned that Jesus was the Lamb of God. I drew the lamb because I can’t draw a man and I’ve never seen Jesus.” The two older brothers began to make fun of their younger sibling, saying, ‘that doesn’t look like a lamb and he can’t draw a man’. Their father sternly scolded them, hugged the youngest tenderly and encouraged the four year old to do his best. Thereupon the two oldest boys began to argue about which drawing was the best as they finished their work in watercolors. The youngest smeared his paints, which ran together creating browns and blacks where whites, reds and yellows should have been even getting much of the water colors on his clothes, hands and face. After all three had finished, both older boys thought that their painting was the best and when the oldest brother presented his work to his dad, he said, “Daddy is my painting the best?” Whereupon the middle son quickly presented his finished work and said, “Daddy is my painting the best?” The wise father smiled and said, “both of these paintings are excellent! But now we must consider your youngest brothers’ work”. The two older brothers protested and said, “Oh daddy, his picture is terrible. You can’t even tell if it’s a lamb or a calf. He smeared the paints, the colors have run together and he painted outside the lines. Which one of ours is the best. ” Turning to the youngest his father said, “Son, show me what you have done.” With head bowed down and in tears, the youngest son obediently gave his work to his father. Knowing that the paintings of his older brothers were better than his he said in tears, “Daddy did I do good?” Gently and tenderly the father received the painting in his left hand, never taking his eyes off his youngest and with his right arm reached down and lifted his discouraged son upon his lap. He hugged him and said, “My son, you have done best of all, for you did the best you could do and found contentment in being equal to your brothers. The intent of your heart has made the works of your hands the best.” Like this father, Kochana, I love you for the works of your life and the pure intent of your heart. You never ask did I do the best. Rather you do your best, and that will always be more than enough for God and me. God made you this way and you have aligned your will with His as you have been molded in a manner pleasing to our God. May our spirits toward God and each other be like the youngest brother, who said, “Daddy did I do good?”

I love you because you always do good, Kochany