Blog Detail
‘Jose’s Dad’
- Posted In Poetry
- September 2, 2021
- pastor_admin
If you seek Him God’s word tells us that:
“He is with you, while you are with Him; and if you seek Him,
He will be found of you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”
— I have a story about a father that desperately wanted his son to seek and find him:
I call it ‘Jose’s Dad’…
–A man, we’ll name him Frank, had finally saved up enough money from years of laboring in a dead-end job to take the vacation of his dreams. So he was off to Mexico the native land of his mother, who had passed away a few years back. Here he was flying over the Texas border bound for Mexico City. He was both thrilled and thoughtful. Frank walked the beaches of Acapulco. He met some of his cousins and learned about his mother’s life of poverty, and her sacrifices to become an American citizen. He had the opportunity to explore the ruins of his Aztec ancestors. He went to all the places that he had only been able to read about before. He had a great time.
However, Frank also was burdened to see the poverty that some Mexicans have to live in. One incident became a life-changing experience for him: That was the day Frank met Jose. Frank found Jose begging from the tourists. Maybe it was the ten-year-old’s dark brown eyes, so sad and desperate, or maybe it was something about his face, either way, Frank’s heart was captured by the desperate lad. Frank knew that God’s purpose was to try to rescue Jose. He was to be the way to accomplish that purpose.
When God purposes something, it gets done. And after many battles with the ‘establishments,’ there came a day when Frank became the legal father of Jose and was able to take him home to Wisconsin. There Jose grew up in the generous love of a father who could not have been more devoted or sacrificial. On the surface, everything seemed fine, but something wasn’t right. Frank just could not connect with Jose on anything other than a material level. When Jose felt that he needed something he would seek Frank out. But when Frank wanted to talk or spend time with his son, Jose was too busy with his friends from school. When Frank would show concern for the company Jose was keeping, he would be accused of demanding too much and told to mind his own business.
Time passed and Jose became a teenager. Sadly he drifted into a life of crime and rebellion. This young man was unreachable by the only one who truly cared for him. A father’s heart is a fragile thing, and Frank’s heart was repeatedly broken. Every effort to reach Jose was met with rejection. There were many ugly confrontations as Frank tried to teach Jose about a new life, and a better way of living. Then one day Frank came home to find Jose and his friends rummaging through Frank’s house taking anything of value that they could find. Jose was at first a little ashamed, and then openly indignant. He finally told Frank how he truly felt, he’d ‘had it’ with all Frank’s boring preaching! What did Frank know about real life anyhow? Jose was ‘out of there’, vowing to never come back. He was leaving with his friends and they were going to take anything they wanted. His resentment had now turned to hatred.
Frank was devastated. And yet he would not prevent this tragedy, sobbing Frank asked God for deliverance from this evil day. Then he heard the sounds of Jose fighting with his so-called friends over Frank’s stolen possessions. A shot rang out. Frank raced to the door just in time to see Jose come scrambling back in, chased by a large youth with a gun. Frank blocked the way of this towering gang member, “You leave my son alone” he shouted.
A struggle ensued, and another shot rang out. Frank slumped to the floor. All the gang members fled. Jose clambered to Frank’s bleeding body, he cried out, “Why did you do that? What were you thinking about? …I’m sorry! Please don’t die!”
Frank found the strength to smile, “Because I love you,” was his quiet answer…