“DADDY, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR SHIRT?”

While Dad was still lecturing actively, he sent home one of his departmental assistants to pick up a new shirt for him. I was the one at home. I asked the assistant what happened to the shirt he wore. He told me that ink splashed on it. 

Later in the day when I heard the sound of Dad’s car, I stepped out to welcome him from work. Just before he opened the door of the car, I leaned in and held on to the door. 

Me: Welcome Daddy. You asked for a change of cloth earlier today. What happened to your shirt?

Dad: Oh! (With a grin), my pen spilt and oil splashed on it. 

Me: (With a mischievous smile) Dad, do you remember those days when I was in primary school and Junior High School? If I ever return home with ink on my uniform, what do you always tell me? 

Dad: Well! I will tell you that you are careless. 

Me: I rest my case

Dad: If I get you this evening, you want to use me to practise as a law student. 

I ran away! 

First, dear father, no matter how hectic your day has been, come back home with a heart that lightens up the atmosphere in your home. Do not give your best everywhere else while you bring the leftover stored-up anger back home. Leave the workload at the door, and come in with your love load, kindness load, peace load, joy load, and blessing load. Some people never knew the joy of running into a father’s hands. Now, they are finding rest in the hands of those who destroy their future. 

Dear Dad, You owe your home the blessing always. Do not return home with the stain of vile words spoken to you at work or in traffic. Come back home with the blessing.

David had a very hectic day with a national assignment. It was so demanding settling the ark in the temple. He danced his heart out. He blessed all the people spiritually and still fed them. Hear the word of the Lord about David: 

“And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house. *Then David returned to bless his household…*”

(II Samuel 6:18-20 NKJV)

What do you return home with; Burden or Blessings?

Second, some stains must never remain on you. There are things you must deal with. Just like Dad was not comfortable in that stained shirt, never be comfortable in a lifestyle of sin. 

To be broken when you sin is not sin-consciousness, it is the sign of a conscience that is not seared. Some people have killed their conscience because they do not want to be sin-conscious.  

Friends, the Holy Spirit will not condemn you but He will convict you. You will lose your composure and peace if indeed, you are a child of God. You will repent before the Lord and if need be, ask for the forgiveness of the person you wronged. 

Never be comfortable in sin. Deal with it fast. Stop going to that place where you keep descending the slope into sexual sin. If you continue, it will seem normal and you will soon find Bible verses to decorate your sinful actions. You are killing your conscience. The longer it takes, the bolder sin becomes. While your conscience is still tender, deal with it. It will help your heart. 

temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa.