By HAROLD KELLER

Everyone who believes in God knows that sometimes He speaks to us through other people. Seldom do we realize that at times when we think we have a godly message for someone, it’s actually God speaking directly to us.

Last week, Gerard Roper, a young father whom I respect very much, shared suck an incident at a men’s meeting. His son, Ross, was a recent eighth-grade graduate from Chanel Catholic School. Gerard decided to write him a letter, since many 13-year-olds are at that stage when instruction from daddy is not that important anymore.

As he shared the contents of the letter, he said that he wanted to stress three major things that he wanted his son, Ross, to be aware of as he continued his future.

He wrote that the first thing was to always have God as the center of everything he did. Second, love and respect other people and third, develop the art of being a good listener. When he finished writing the letter, he went over it carefully to be sure that there were no mistakes. He didn’t want his son to have to correct anything about the letter.

After reviewing it a few times, he said that he could have slapped himself! God was telling him that the message was good, but it was directed at him as much as he wanted to direct it to his son.

I’ve known Gerard and his wife, Mary Ellen, for a few years. They have been loving, God-fearing parents to Ross and his younger brother, Remy.

As a father, he has a strong desire to have Ross receive his graduation message and live it all through life.

To Ross I say, “Congratulations!” I pray that you will never take the parents God has blessed you with for granted.

The Bible says to train up children in the way they should go, and when they are old, they will not depart from it.

Gerard and Mary Ellen are investing their love and energy into raising their sons to be productive, Christian young men. God’s promise is to give them the desires of their heart.

I have no doubt that God’s message to Gerard, with the intention of passing it on to Ross, will be received by both as intended and maybe touch many parents who read this testimony.

HAROLD KELLER writes this column as part of his affiliation with the Get High on Life religious motivational group. Call him at (985) 652-8477.