“Like Father Like Son”

In the beginning it seemed so simple
Serve a mission, marry in the temple
We were so happy, so full of joy
You and I, and our little boy

To provide our needs I worked more days
Slowly, surely, I changed my ways
My job, my bills, my child, my wife
Became the order of my life

No longer did we daily share
No longer did we kneel in prayer
No longer were our scriptures read
We gathered round TV instead

I can’t pinpoint the time or day
My testimony slipped away
So gradual was the change in me
I felt nothing, I couldn’t see

We still attend each week or two
Mainly I go to please just you
Don’t drink, don’t smoke, I’m not that bad
I’m pretty good, just like my dad

As we live on season to season
It seems there is no rhyme, no reason

To live…

Where did it go, the reason, the rhyme
I live by the rules
Most of them anyway
I go to church sometimes
Helped on a service project
Elders Quorum president always wants more
Who made him my president
We used to be friends
Did a lot of things
His family, ours

Don’t see them much anymore
They’re busy with church…
They do seem happy

…I’m starting to remember

The things we did together
His family, ours
We did them at church
They were happier times

Now my eyes are filled with tears
Opening after so many years
The Spirit tells me repent, confess
A burden heavy burns in my chest

The instant I my heart outpoured
All burdens were lifted by my Lord
As His Spirit to me returned
Once again my chest did burn

Quietly whispered, without ceremony
The Spirit delivered my testimony
Knowledge filled my very being
Of Jesus the Christ, the Son, the King

Praise God I do, this and every day
We share, we read, we kneel, we pray
How glorious, how divine, His peace, His joy
As we grow in love, as we raise our boy

The Lord has given us reason and rhyme
I’m grateful He opened my blind eyes in time
For when I said, “I know this Church is true”
Our son said, “Daddy, I want to be just like you!”

John J. LaPierre

Posted by John in Home Teaching, HT-Poems & Stories