LUKY
TWO MEN WERE STANDING ON A LONELY STRETCH OF BEACH REGARDING WITH AWE THE GREAT FOAMY BREAKERS.
They were neighbors, and over their garden fences they had discovered that both were to go on leave to spots within thirty minutes' travel of each other.
Earlier that morning one man had arrived with his family on a visit to the other.
Now they were standing together, the great sound of waves booming over the delighted shrieks of their children who frolicked nearby.
At that moment they were feeling closer to one another than they ever had back at home.
Indicating the children, the taller man said: "You know, I've got one worry in my life.
There he is - my five-year-old son Billy. You know what he's doing with that stick now?
He's fondly hoping to upset some perfectly inoffensive fish family into swimming for their lives.
"Just look at the little imp, lazy, dirty, cheeky.
His wants in life are few - cowboy suits, hiding in bushes, jumping out and startling people.
See those goggles he's got on? Well he'll be wearing them.
Whenever I'm about to take a bath I make sure to get in before Billy has his.
Even before undressing he dons his flippers. Plop, plop he goes into the bathroom and gets his frogfeet wet before he realizes he forgot to bring the Navy in.
Before we can catch him he's into his bedroom for his boats."
The man sighed. "I've resigned myself to the fact that I shall have to support him all all my life.
I love my son, and I don't known where I've failed him. Can you give me any advice?"
The other man threw out his hands in a gesture of helplessness.
"Who am I to guide you?" he asked rhetorically. "Just look at the heir to my debts over there - a scapegrace of the first water.
I drop him off at school mornings and fetch him again at lunch.
So I see to it that his blazer is on nicely and his tie straight.
Shoes polished, shirt tucked in all the way, hair combed, and off he goes.
"At lunchtime I pick him up. There he is, dirty, shirt handing out, tie twisted around like a noose...
"Looking swiftly to left and right for fear someone I know is near, I quickly open the door, let him in and off we go.
"I get a beautiful smile - that I can't deny - and take heart. 'How did you do at school today, son?' I ask, my hopes high.
But my courage drops to my boots when he answers:
"Tell me Daddy, did George Best score six in the 8 to 2 cup win on the sixth or seventh of February, 1970?"
Why, I wonder, is he so keen on all knowledge and information barring that contained in his school syllabus?
"Sometimes I despairingly tell him that if he grows up to be a dropout I'll support his wife and children only.
Him I'll chase away - or so I tell him . . ." and again he threw his hands out in a gesture of despair.
The wife of one of the men had been listening to their conversation and moved off quietly, smiling to herself.
"Silly men," she thought, "Why are you so concerned? Look at the order of the magnificent sea round you.
Do you think the God Who created all this grandeur without your help needs the two of you in the shaping of the future of your sons and his?
You just work for them, set them a good example, and teach them to love HIm.
Then He will look after them for you - never fear."
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