A doctor told his children about his youth:

“On the evening of a long, hot day, just as I was about to leave my work in the hay to go home, my father came to me and said, ‘Richard, can you take this package to the next village?

I was a twelve-year-old boy and had been working since dawn. No wonder I was tired. Besides, it was almost half an hour’s walk to the village, and I was hungry.

At first, I wanted to refuse my father’s request, but then I pulled myself together and said, ‘Yes, I’ll go!

’ ‘Thank you, my boy,’ my father replied and gave me the package. ‘I would have gone myself, but I’m not feeling well today.

Then he put his hand on my arm and said, “Thank you, my dear Richard, you have always been a good boy to me.”

I hurried to the village with the package and quickly returned. As I approached my parents’ house, an assistant came towards me and brought me the shocking news: “Your father is no longer alive. Just as he was about to enter the house, he collapsed and died. He couldn’t say anything else. ‘

The doctor paused for a moment. Then he said emotionally, ‘How often have I had to thank God that my father’s last words were, ‘You have always been a good boy to me.

’ ‘Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord’ (Col 3:20).