Matthew 7:9

[JohnS]

I stated recently in the Cuban Purchase thread that I would expand upon this acquisition and voila...here's the story. It starts with my son and ends with my father. And I guess, if you are aware of Jesus famous 'Sermon on the Mount', a collection of sayings from the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5 to 7, which would include the most quoted parts of the bible, then Matthew 7:9 itself includes references to both 'son' and 'father'.

This acquisition started with my son requesting a re-stock of some Cohiba Shorts. You see, he works as a Youth worker in a church here in the northern suburbs of Sydney and on occasion he like to bond with friends afterwards his age over a short cigarillo and often a dram of whisky.

Upon hearing this request, my mind turned immediately to my own father quoting numerous aspects from the Sermon on the Mount in my developing years. His favourite is possibly the earliest cultural reference against the modern cultural on-line habit of 'virtue signalling'; namely, "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." (Matthew 6:3). As I am of Greek background, that being, both my parents are first-generation Australian immigrants born in Greece, this awareness of sayings from the Sermon on the Mount is indistinguishable from my Greek cultural upbringing. Even if you aren't of a religious of Western Cultural background, (i.e. you grew up in a country that has derived its culture from the advent of Christianity, the Roman Empire and Ancient Greek civilisation influenced by Alexander the Great), you'd be aware of the 'golden rule' for example. (I.e. Matthew 7:12 "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them")

So, when my son asked for some more Cohiba Shorts, I thought of Matthew 7:9, "what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?" I mean, there was no question of saying, "no".

A great number of us are parents and we can all relate to this fun anecdote I've shared. I mean, sometimes you do actually have to say "no" to your kids but for me, acquiescing to this request made me reminisce my own upbringing.

[bassistheplace]

John, this is excellent. Really glad you shared this with us

[MoeFOH]

@JohnS ...please tell me someone was wearing your Cigar Jesus FOH Man of the Year t-shirt during this? 

[JohnS]

9 hours ago, bassistheplace said:

John, this is excellent. Really glad you shared this with us

Incidentally, my wife and I were with my parents (who are now in their late 70s/early 80s) at the shopping mall yesterday. My mum was 'in her element' shopping for a few hours while my wife looked after her, and I was looking after my Dad. He has early age-onset dementia so short-term memory can be challenging these days but my goodness, he had no issue recalling the Matthew 6:3 verse and having a chuckle. These are just things we can all relate to. The older one gets, the more we realise we are quite alike in our experiences.

17 minutes ago, MoeFOH said:

@JohnS ...please tell me someone was wearing your Cigar Jesus FOH Man of the Year t-shirt during this? 

Haha...fun times when both my young adult kids take turns to wear my FoH May of the Year 'Cigar Jesus' T-shirt!

[westg]

That is a cool little write up. Thanks John.  🤙

[JohnS]

1 hour ago, westg said:

That is a cool little write up. Thanks John.  🤙

Thank you, West! 👍

[ha_banos]

What age is your boy John? Already got him on the vices. Only to bring him up being told no by the government in due course no doubt! I'm sure you're leading him to some wiser lesson he'll realise long into the future I'm sure!

[JohnS]

Haha...thanks ha_banos! He's 26. My how time flies!

[Fuzz]

John, as I told you on Sunday, you should have related to George the fable of the son asking his father for a red ferrari...

[Goldeneye]

Thanks for the write up John, quite a thought provoking little story.

[JohnS]

39 minutes ago, Goldeneye said:

Thanks for the write up John, quite a thought provoking little story.

Thank you. I think the older one gets, the more one realises that there's no such thing as a 'parenting style'. I've heard the notion that one's kids develop into adults differently, and in fact your kids turn out quite different to each other, most often. So, what you end up doing is trying to do your best to maintain a good relationship with your kids on an adult level. But, that's another story!

[Habanoschris]

Great stuff! 

[Ken Gargett]

On 10/8/2024 at 10:40 AM, JohnS said:

I stated recently in the Cuban Purchase thread that I would expand upon this acquisition and voila...here's the story. It starts with my son and ends with my father. And I guess, if you are aware of Jesus famous 'Sermon on the Mount', a collection of sayings from the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5 to 7, which would include the most quoted parts of the bible, then Matthew 7:9 itself includes references to both 'son' and 'father'.

This acquisition started with my son requesting a re-stock of some Cohiba Shorts. You see, he works as a Youth worker in a church here in the northern suburbs of Sydney and on occasion he like to bond with friends afterwards his age over a short cigarillo and often a dram of whisky.

Upon hearing this request, my mind turned immediately to my own father quoting numerous aspects from the Sermon on the Mount in my developing years. His favourite is possibly the earliest cultural reference against the modern cultural on-line habit of 'virtue signalling'; namely, "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." (Matthew 6:3). As I am of Greek background, that being, both my parents are first-generation Australian immigrants born in Greece, this awareness of sayings from the Sermon on the Mount is indistinguishable from my Greek cultural upbringing. Even if you aren't of a religious of Western Cultural background, (i.e. you grew up in a country that has derived its culture from the advent of Christianity, the Roman Empire and Ancient Greek civilisation influenced by Alexander the Great), you'd be aware of the 'golden rule' for example. (I.e. Matthew 7:12 "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them")

So, when my son asked for some more Cohiba Shorts, I thought of Matthew 7:9, "what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?" I mean, there was no question of saying, "no".

A great number of us are parents and we can all relate to this fun anecdote I've shared. I mean, sometimes you do actually have to say "no" to your kids but for me, acquiescing to this request made me reminisce my own upbringing.

great stuff, john. my old man used to quote the bible (sort of) on occasion. if i did not behave better, study harder etc etc, he was going to bring down the wrath of god. 

[JohnS]

3 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

great stuff, john. my old man used to quote the bible (sort of) on occasion. if i did not behave better, study harder etc etc, he was going to bring down the wrath of god. 

Haha...our fathers are of a similar generation, it seems!