Father and Son
Just as he does every Wednesday, Ray laid our local newspaper on my desk late yesterday afternoon. It’s almost Christmas, so out fell a Kroger ad for groceries, a Dairy Queen ad, a Subway ad, a Dollar General ad, and an ad for American-Made Case knives (lots of hunting goes on around these parts).
After noting what stores were advertising this week and flipping through the knife ad and enjoying the vintage knife factory photos, I was ready to look at the one and only actual news section of this week’s ten-page version of our weekly paper. I’ll share with you the front page headlines:
- Impound Vehicle Sale Approved
- Poster Winners Announced (for the soil conservation district)
- Signs Erected to Honor Gipson (a hometown girl who recently became the national winner of a beauty contest — big news in a town of 1,000 people!)
- Coach Retires
- Father and Son Arrested for Burglary and Theft
Now, I don’t know about you, but that last headline makes me want to put my head on my desk and just sob. The article consisted of two paragraphs alongside two mug shots. It began with the report that the local sheriff’s office recently arrested two suspects. It told about a month-long investigation which culminated with the arrest of 50-year-old ____ ____ , Sr., and 25-year-old ____ ____ Jr. at their home.
As noted at the end of the article, both men are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. I do hope they are innocent.
I wondered.
What is the rest of this story?
Was the mama who gave her son the name of his father at home when authorities who had been investigating burglaries for a month arrived to arrest her son and his father?
Did Jr. have siblings at home?
How does this family earn their living?
Whose heart was broken when he or she saw this story all around town yesterday?
Are Jr.’s grandparents grieving tonight?
This morning I am grateful that my son’s father loves him, is a good example, and has always encouraged him to do what is right and good. Last night I told him so.
Give me your heart, my son,
And let your eyes delight in my ways.
Proverbs 23:26