July 2025 Vision

Give Me a Gink

With Father's Day behind us, I remember this story.
A father writes, "My kids are like camels. They can play all
day in the blazing sun and never think of water. But at bedtime,
as soon as their heads hit the pillow, suddenly they discover their unquenchable
thirst. The other night, my three year-old son and I had been through the regular
nighttime routine. Story. Prayer. Hugs. Then as my hand slid down the light switch, I
heard a small voice say, "I want a gink." He can't say "drink." I thought it was kind
of cute "gink," but I was firm, "You just had a drink when you brushed your teeth.
Now it's time to go to sleep." At last, the kids were all in bed. Peace. Silence. I sat in
the best chair and began to sort through the mail. "I want a gink," from the darkness.
"Gink" lost some of its cuteness. "No water! Go to sleep!"Quietness reigned
for at least 60 seconds. "Daddy, I want a gink." "Be quiet!" "I want a gink." I knew
how Moses felt in the wilderness with a million Jews all crying, "We want a gink!"
"Gink" was no longer cute. I yelled down the hallway into the darkness, "If I hear
you ask for a gink one mare time, If I hear one sound from you, I'm gonna come
down there and spank you. I'm not kidding. Now be quiet and go to sleep!" It was
quiet as a tomb. Not a sound. One could have heard a pin drop. It was so silent I
couldn't concentrate on the mail. Then the still small voice of a child who smelled
victory, "Daddy, when you come in here to spank me could you bring me a gink of
water?" I took along the water, gave him a hug, and tapped him lightly on the bottom.
Once. Not hard. Just to let him know that I wasn't fooled. He smiled. I think that
God does that to us sometimes too."
I suspect God must laugh at us now and then when we really deserve a spanking.
Thank God, that by his grace and mercy, he gives us a "gink" rather than what we
deserve.

~ Phillip