FATHERING LEADERSHIP

PRAY | TO HEAVENLY FATHER

“Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank thee for my many blessings and for this new day.

I thank thee for my family.

I thank thee for our food and nice home.

Please bless me to repent and to follow Jesus.

Please help me learn good things today.

I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”

READ STORY | A TALK WITH DAD

That evening, while his father and Harry were cleaning-up after dinner, Harry began to tell his father about his encounter with the rattlesnake.

Harry’s father listened quietly.

“Sit down, Harry,” said his father. “I’d like to tell you something.”

Harry sat down on the long bench next to the kitchen table.

“I love you Harry. You know that, don’t you?”

“Sure, Dad. I know.”

“Let’s review our rules, his father began. “You must always tell me where you’re going, never go too far unless someone is with you, and remember to use your head or your whole body will suffer.”

Harry nodded.

His father continued, “You know the foothills have many rattlers in them, especially at this time of the year. Generally, if you don’t disturb them, they won’t disturb you. And it’s helpful to know that they always rattle before they strike. . . they always rattle. . . unless, of course, they strike first.”

Harry smiled so his dad would know he got the joke. “Ok, Dad. I’ll be careful.”

“Thanks, Harry,” said his father. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”

“I know, Dad,” said Harry.

“Your experience with the snake reminds me of a dream I had many years ago. I wrote it down in my journal. Would you like to hear about it?”

“Sure,” responded Harry.

Harry’s father retrieved his journal from the desk in his bedroom, joined Harry on the couch, and began to read.

“THE TINY SNAKE”

In a dream, I saw myself as a young boy, playing with a tiny snake. But before very long, I became interested in other things. I didn’t want to let go of the tiny snake, since I liked it and wanted to play with it later, so I continued to hold on with one hand and use my free hand to play with other fun things.

 

In a short time, I realized that the tiny snake was growing. . . growing rapidly. But I was too interested with other things to pay much attention to the snake. “I’ll get back to it later,” I told myself. The snake continued to grow and was becoming difficult to control. Soon both my hands were required to control the little snake. Although irritated, I thought to myself, “I’ll get to it in a minute.”

 

Soon, the snake’s wiggling required all my strength to keep from losing control. So reluctantly, I turned to see my snake. In total shock, I was not faced with a friendly little snake but a full grown and dangerous cobra! Desperately I held on. I wanted to let go, to run, but didn’t dare loosen my grip in fear that the Cobra would bite me. I then realized that I too had grown, and now as an adult, was struggling with a powerful enemy. My playful little snake, at one time so easily controlled, was now deadly serious in its attempt to take my life.

 

Just then, I suddenly awoke, sat up in bed, and looked quickly around my room to make sure I was safe. While still breathing rapidly, I thanked my Heavenly Father that the Cobra was only a dream.

 

Harry’s father looked up from his journal and said: I have always believed this dream was a lesson for me. The lesson for me was to learn that habits acquired while you are young should always be good ones, because, after you grow up bad habits can be terrible to get rid of.

“That’s a pretty intense dream”, said Harry. 

Harry enjoyed reading with his father. They tried to read from the scriptures and write in their journals every night.

Harry’s father smiled and said, “Tonight, have pleasant dreams and don’t let the bed-snakes bite.”

They both laughed and the bedroom light was turned off.