The man and the woman acquired two beautiful kittens. These kittens came from a home where they had been loved, cuddled, and petted by cat-loving children. They were very tame and trusting, believing innocently that the whole big wonderful world had been created for their enjoyment. They never imagined for a moment any threat of danger.  

As the kittens tumbled and scampered on the sunny back porch, the man stroked his chin and looked worried. How could he preserve their innocent trust, protect them, and at the same time integrate them with the realities of country life? Could they survive the learning curve that would introduce them to prowling neighborhood dogs and marauding tomcats?  

Today, approximately 380,000 beautiful, innocent, trusting babies will be born into our dangerous world. Some will be born to drug addicts, criminals, and murderers. Some will be born to agnostics, atheists, and Satan worshipers.  

Some will be born to single parents in depressing poverty and squalor. Some will be born to parents who don’t have time for them, don’t want them, or even hate them.  

But some fathers are pondering how they will protect and educate their vulnerable, innocent little ones while preparing them to live in a desperately wicked world. If you are a child or young person sitting with your family, listening to a godly father read these words, you are among the most blessed children on the face of the earth.  

To protect a kitten is a good thing; to protect a child is infinitely more important. So fathers and mothers, ponder on, for eternity will bear testimony to your success or failure.  

Train up a child in the way he should go, 
That the way of God’s kingdom he might know.  
—adapted from Proverbs 22:6 

From Paws on My Porch, by Gary Miller
© 2015 TGS International, PO Box 355, Berlin, Ohio 44610
Used by permission