This week I had an experience I've only had a hand full of times in my experience with youth ministry.We had small groups on Sunday night and i have a small group of 7th grade guys. This night a couple of times i had to raise my voice to some of my guys to get their attention. One boy in particular didn't listen to me so i yelled his name. Well, that boys dad must have been there that evening and heard me yell his son's name. After small groups the boys dad promptly came over to me and asked if we could chat. Instantly i got a lump in my throat and i started to prepare myself to be confronted for raising my voice to his son. But, the exact opposite happened. The dad asked if he had the story right; that i had to yell at his son to get him to listen. I affirmed that and then the dad apologized to me. He then did something that amazed me. He called his son over and in front of me scolded his son for the way he acted and told his son right in front of me that if this situation ever happens again he (the dad) would be sitting in on our small group time for the rest of the school year. The Dad told me thank you for my time and took his son home. I stood there in shock and then went on my way.
Now that i have had time to reflect on that situation, i am still so amazed at that interaction. That Dad amazed me that he was willing to stand up for me, he amazed me that he was willing to set such an amazing example to his son, that Dad set a great example to me on the type of Dad i need to be. Wow, what an amazing night.
