Mr. Harris, a wealthy Christian business man, sat at his desk in his office one day, with a sad, serious look on his face. He had just dismissed John, his driver.
John had won his employer’s affection and confidence in those long years during which he had faithfully served him. But for some time now John had taken to drinking, and as all the warnings he received were in vain, Mr. Harris had threatened him with dismissal.
With tears in his eyes John had promised to do better, and one more chance was granted to him. However, he had fallen back into his drinking habits again, and now he was to go. There was no altering the fact this time, and John knew only too well that when his boss said anything with such decision, any attempt to move him to withdraw it was in vain.
So he had gone out of Mr. Harris’ office without answering a word, despair filling his heart. He stood outside, leaning against the wall, his head sunk on his breast, while he thought of having lost such a good boss and having brought this calamity on his family. It all weighed heavily on his mind.
A moment later, Herbie, Mr. Harris’ little son, came running in from the parking lot in childish glee. He looked in astonishment at John the driver and came slowly nearer. Then taking John’s hand confidentially his big blue eyes looked up at him questioningly.
“Yes, Herbie,” said John almost in a whisper, “I have done wrong; your father is angry with me and I have to leave. But,” he added after a pause, “if you were to ask him to pardon me—perhaps he would do it for your sake, for his dear son’s sake.”
Herbie was off like a shot and hastened straight upstairs to his father’s office. Before the door he stood still and waited. John had said: “Your father is very angry with me for I have done wrong.” Would he dare then to ask a favor? “But I haven’t done anything bad myself,” he reasoned, and thus comforted, he walked through the door to his father’s office and slowly entered.
Scarcely had he seen the look of tender love on his father’s face than he hastened to him, climbed up on his knee and settled on his lap. Then putting his arm around his neck he looked up into his father’s face and said in a pleading tone: “Daddy, John sent me to you; he is standing outside in tears, and he wants me to ask you if you will forgive him for my sake.”
George Harris was silent, and for some moments his face betrayed the struggle going on within. Then he kissed his little son and answered him in a severe yet kindly voice, “Did John ask that, son? Yes, I freely forgive him, because you have pleaded for him. Go and tell him so. He may stay, and I will forgive him all.” Then he added, “But he must not drink any more!”
Herbie ran to carry the message, and Mr. Harris silently folded his hands and said as if in prayer, “Now I understand what that verse means, ‘we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous’ (1 John 2:11My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1)); and " ‘Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it you.’ " (John 16:2323And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. (John 16:23).)
ML-03/11/1979