He Protected, He Provided, He Persevered - "In Mental Distress" -Conclusion

 Thus in a few deft strokes, God's Word paints a realistic picture of parenthood. It can be stressful-even when the child is perfect! Parenting in today's dangerous world can bring untold "mental distress," but fathers and mother can take comfort in knowing that the Bible acknowledges the challenges they face.

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.  He answered his parents in simple sincerity: "Why did you have to come looking for me?  Did you not know that I must be in the house of my Father?" - LUKE 2:49. 

Joseph surely thought about those words many times. Perhaps he camt to beam with pride over them. After all, he had worked diligently to teach his adopted 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" feeling shaped largely by his years with Joseph.

If you are a father, do you realize how privileged you are 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 child as unique and  precious. Help those children to draw close to their heavenly Father, Jehovah God. - Read EPHESIANS 6:4. 

Next time: He  Protected, He Provided, He Persevered - Joseph Persevered Faithfully

 From the jw.org publications