NYM Ministries: Losing/Winning a Child's Heart (from Today's Native Father #98

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PRODUCT/RESOURCES INDEX Today's Native Father Archive of Articles Free booklets Marriage/Parenting Tip Calendar of workshops E-mail questions or comments	This article is from Today's Native Father, issue #98, July/August, 1998. Related articles from this issue: Father's Anger Crushes Children I Don't Have an Anger Problem A Mother's Battle with Anger
	LOSING/WINNING A CHILD'S HEART A Family Bible Study by David Hertzler
	King David loved his son Absalom. But he lost his son’s heart. Absalom became an angry young rebel. From his own bitter experience, however, Absalom learned how to win the hearts of his countrymen. 1. Absalom listened to his countrymen (2 Samuel 15:2). 2. He spoke kindly to them.( 2 Samuel 15:3) 3. He touched them in an encouraging way (2 Samuel 15:3) Now let’s rewrite the story .Each time you come to the word STOP, think of some ways that King David could have won Absalom’s heart with a listening ear, a kind word and encouraging touch. 1 Absalom’s sister Tamar was seduced and raped by her half-brother Amnon. King David heard about it. STOP. (What did King David do, 2 Samuel 13:21? What could he have done?) 2 Absalom waited two years to see what would happen. Then he organized a plot to get Amnon away from the protection of the palace so that he could kill him. STOP. (What did King David do, 2 Samuel 13:31? What could he have done?) 3 Absalom fled for protection to his grandfather who was king of the neighbouring country of Geshur. STOP. (What did King David do, 2 Samuel 13:39? What could he have done?) 4 After three years King David’s general Joab was troubled by the conflict between the king and his son. He found a way to persuade David to bring Absalom back. Then Joab went and summoned Absalom back to Jerusalem. STOP. (What did King David do, 2 Samuel 14:24? What could he have done?) 5 After two more years (are you counting the years?) Absalom asked to be brought to the king. When he came in, King David kissed him, (2 Samuel 14:33). This was the formal greeting of a monarch, not the affectionate greeting of a father. STOP. (What else could King David have done?) From this point on Absalom was in full revolt against the king. He organized an armed rebellion in which he was killed. By failing to win his son’s heart, King David lost his son and endangered his own life and kingdom.
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