On a dark, stormy night, a son drew back his fist in anger and hit his father. He slowly picked himself up, wiped the blood from his face and told him to leave home. They would no longer allow his violent behavior. The parents gave him all the love and guidance possible, but in his teen years, he mingled with the wrong crowd. It began as mischievous schemes, such as breaking windows, slashing tires and throwing rocks at cars. A railroad track ran near their small but modest farm. When the train whistle blew, the son ran to an old apple tree on the hillside for a better view. The day of the violence, he hopped a freight car when the train stopped at the nearby station. The parents watched with broken hearts, yet knew it was necessary. For years, the son wandered over the country and occasionally wrote home, with no return address. One day the parents received a letter that would change their lives forever. Miles away, the son boarded a train and wearily sat down beside a stranger. The man tried to strike up a conversation but didnt receive an answer. He turned to the young man and saw tears streaming down his checks. Son, he said. Is there someway I can help you? The young man proceeded to tell his story. Sir, a few years ago, I was so mean and hard that my mom and dad couldnt do anything with me. I was nothing but embaras-ment to them and things got so bad that one day I hit my father with my fist. The young man continued as he wiped his tears. I had to leave home and havent seen my parents in years, but now I want to go home. You see, I wandered by an old country church and I heard someone singing. It reminded me of home when mama took me to church and we sang this song. By now, the stranger was so touched he asked the young man what the name of the song was. The son answered I only remember these words, Coming home, coming home, never more to roam it changed my life that night and I wrote my parents a letter. I told them I would be on this train and wanted to come home. We had an old apple tree on the hillside and I asked them to tie a white rag on the tree if they could forgive me for all the pain Id caused. If they dont want me, Ill stay on the train and begin a new life. As the train neared the station, the young man asked the stranger, Will you look and tell me what you see? I wanna go home and tell them I am sorry for all the heartaches I caused. Please tell me if you see just one white rag on the tree. The stranger wiped the dust off the train window, and said, You can relax. Why, that old apple tree is in full blossom. Ive never seen so many white rags tied on anything in all my life. The son looked out the window and sure enough, the stranger was right. And, standing under the old apple tree were mom and dad waving a big white sheet that read: Come on home, son. Welcome back.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 16:41:17 +0000
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