Here’s a story of an illegitimate child who grows up to become Governor
of
Tennessee. His name is Ben Hooper.
A
seminary professor (Dr. Craddock) was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, TN. One morning,
they were eating breakfast at little restaurant, hoping to enjoy quiet, family
meal. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished
looking man moving from table to table, visiting with the guests.
The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, “I hope he doesn’t come
over here.” But sure enough, the man did come over to their table. “Where are
you folks from?” he asked in a friendly voice.
“Oklahoma,” they answered.
“Great to have you here in Tennessee,” the stranger said. “What do you do for a
living?” “I teach at a seminary,” he replied.
“Oh,
so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I’ve got a really great
story for you.” And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at
the table with the couple. The professor groaned and thought to himself, “Great
…Just what I need another preacher story!”
The
man started, “ See that mountain over there pointing out the restaurant window.
Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother.
He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he was always asked
the same question, “Hey boy, who’s your Daddy?”
He
would hide at recess and lunchtime from other students. He would avoid going in
to stores because that question hurt him so bad. “When he was about 12 years
old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late and slip out
early to avoid hearing the question, “Who’s your daddy?” But one day, the new
preacher said the benediction so fast he got caught and had to walk out with the
crowd.
“Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing
anything about, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, “Son, who’s your
daddy?” The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the
church looking at him. Now everyone would finally know the answer to the
question, ‘Who’s your daddy’. This new preacher, though, sensed the situation
around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the
following to that scared little boy: “Wait a minute!” he said. “I know who you
are, I see the family resemblance now. You are a child of God. With that he
patted the boy on his shoulder and said, “Boy, you’ve got a great inheritance.
Go and claim it.”
With
that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out the door a
changed person. He was never the same again.
Whenever anybody asked him, “Who’s your Daddy?” he’d just tell them, “I’m a
child of God.” The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said.
“Isn’t that a great story?”
The
professor responded that it really was a great story!
As
the man turned to leave, he said, “You know, if that new preacher hadn’t told me
that I was one of the God’s children, I probably never would have amounted to
anything!” And he walked away.
The
seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress over and
asked her, “Do you know who that man was, who has just left that was sitting at
our table?”
The
waitress grinned and said, “Of course. Everybody here knows him. That’s Ben
Hooper. He’s the former governor of Tennessee!”
Someone in our life today needs a reminder that he/she is one of God’s children!
I
know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord,' plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
|
Tim
|