Conclusion of "In Mental Distress"

Happily, Jesus had stayed in the one place in the world where he felt the closest to his heavenly Father, Jehovah, eagerly soaking up anything he could learn. Thus, he answered his parents in simple sincerity:  "Why did you have to go looking for me?  Did you not know that I must be in the house of my Father?" -Luke 2:49. 

Joseph surely thought those words over many times. Perhaps he came to beam with pride over them. After all, he had worked to diligently  to teach his adoptive son to feel that way about Jehovah God. By that time in his life as a boy, Jesus already had warm feelings about the word "father"-feelings shaped largely by his exposure to Joseph. 

If you are a father, do you realize what a privilege you have to help your children to form a concept of what a loving, protective  father is?  Likewise, if you have stepchildren or adopted children, remember Joseph's  example and treat each one as unique and precious. Help them to draw close to their heavenly Father, Jehovah God. 

Next time: Joseph Persevered Faithfully

From the Watchtower magazine, 2012