Dating With A Purpose
by Pastor Jack Schaap
Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana
Chapter Twenty-Four
If I Could Be Your Parent
If I could be your
parent, Teen,
I'd never see divorce
A suitable solution for a
Marriage off its course.
Divorce has never solved
the faults
That lie in human hearts.
A marriage must be built by God,
Or die from Satan's darts.
And little victims of
divorce
Cry out, "Was I to blame?"
"I love my mom, and Daddy, too;
Why must I bear this shame?"
"I simply do not
understand
Why Mom and Dad must break;
Could they not try to work it out
If only for my sake?"
Commitment and tenacity
And never, "It's your fault!"
Can build and strengthen and secure
A marriage worth its salt.
No, I would never
separate
Your parents from you, Teen.
Divorce is not a word you'd hear
In jest or when I'm mean.
If I could be your
father, Teen,
Dear Mom would have first place.
I'd buy her candy, flowers, too,
And dresses trimmed with lace.
She'd be the queen of
our sweet home,
The princess of my life.
To you, she'd be the "bestest" Mom;
To me, the greatest wife.
I'd work real hard to
earn enough
To keep my family fed.
Before I took a welfare dime,
I'd work 'til I dropped dead.
A bigger house we'd
never need
To keep pace with the rest;
We'd hang a sign up, "Home, sweet home,"
And think our shack the best!
You'd take some trips
with Mom and Dad,
Perhaps we'd head out west.
Each year you'd look at picture book,
And say, "That was the best!"
If I could be your
mother, Teen,
You'd know Dad is the king;
For he's the man of God in charge;
His praises I would sing.
He speaks the truth, his
word is law,
His way is always right;
I'd be his helper, lover, friend,
In darkness, be his light.
If I could be your
parent, Teen,
A special joy you'd know
Of being wanted —
loved a bunch,
A home with love aglow.
Not once, you'd ever
hear me say,
"I wish you were not mine!"
Or "I can't wait until you're gone,
Without you we'd be fine."
No, I would take a
million more
Like you to laugh and play —
You'd be the music in our home,
The sunshine in each day.
Some funny faces, games
and chores,
A wrestling match or two,
A date with Dad, a lunch with Mom
—
My days with you too few.
I know we'd get along
just grand
My buddy, friend and pal.
I'd rather take you to the zoo
Than visit you in jail.
And someday when you
"fall in love,"
And tears of joy I weep,
A million memories I'd have made
And those I'll always keep.
— Pastor Jack Schaap
