JoJo 3.1

As Dan got off the phone with Principal Mr. Boss, he was furious! His first thought was selfish...My own reputation is blown up! He quickly felt the Lord reminding him that this was about JoJo. And after all, Jesus was the only reason "good" was anywhere near Disciple Dan's name and reputation being combined!

"Men...we do fight PRIDE!" Dan thought.
"Suspension"...as Dan continued to think..."This calls for major consequences at home! First, his phone line is out of his room. As far as Tommy...I hope we never see him again, or his loudmouth Wildfire daddy!"
Suddenly, Dan remembered his devotion from that morning.
It was about a man who pushed and pushed his son until he left at the age of 18 years-old (23 years ago), and he never came back. But the verse used as the text really stuck out.
Proverbs 6:4 (ESV) Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

It was then that Dan made a decision he had never made before...really 2 decisions.
First, he asked Gail, his secretary to take over for the rest of the day. (Her job title did not match her job description. Gail could do everything at the Hardware Store except for sign Dan's names on checks.)
"Dan, it is only 1:00! Do you feel OK?"
"I have a family semi-emergency, but nothing serious."
"I've got everything here, please do what you need to do."
"I don't say it near enough, Gail, but I am so grateful that I can trust you!"
"Dan, it's all in a day's work!"

The second new thing for Dan: praying before issuing a consequence to JoJo. He decided he wanted Alice to pray with him. When Dan arrived at home, he was surprised to find Alice in the kitchen, cleaning up after lunch.
"Alice, you must be feeling pretty good!"
"Honey, I feel like 5 dollars!" She laughed...she was quite away from feeling like a million.
"That is better than feeling like a quarter!" Dan was slightly corny, but Alice always laughed at his lame jokes.
Alice suddenly realized it was early afternoon. She asked, "Is everything OK, Hon?"
"Alice, Mr. Boss just called me, and JoJo has been suspended for 3 days."
"Two questions: 1. For what reason is he suspended? and 2. Why are you so calm?"
"He was fighting."
"WHAT??!!"
"Alice, boys sometimes get into fights."
Alice had 3 brothers and quickly realized Dan was right.
"The reason I am here early and calm is because of (he spelled it out) G.O.D."
"I don't understand."
"Alice, would you pray with me about the way we are going to handle the consequences for this situation?"
For the first time in years, Dan and Alice prayed together.
Dan began, "Father forgive us for not trusting You with JoJo like we should. Forgive me for reacting with selfish pride instead of seeking your Word when it comes to things like this fight. Guide us."
Alice continued, "Oh Lord, how merciful you have been to us. Thank you that I could get out of bed today! We love you, and we love our son, JoJo. Please guide us in this matter of helping him become a Christian young man."