The Disobedient Son, Part 1 Vitaliano Marrero Vitaliano had it made. As an officer in the Cuban military, he had a steady job that carried with it a certain amount of respect. He and his wife, Migdalia, had two small children and lived in a modest home. Things were going well, and he had no interest in God or religion. One day Vitaliano returned from work early and greeted his wife. But his 5-year-old son, Alexey, did not come running to greet him. “Where is Alexey?” he asked. “He’s at Rosabel’s,” Migdalia answered. Rosabel was a teenage girl who lived next door. She was a good girl who loved all the children. She sponsored a children’s Bible club every week, and when she invited Alexey to attend, Migdalia agreed to let him go, but she warned Alexey not to tell his father, for he would be angry. Alexey attended the Bible club whenever his father wasn’t home. He loved the songs and Bible videos, which taught him so much about Jesus. “What is Alexey doing at Rosabel’s?” Vitaliano asked. Migdalia hoped that he wouldn’t ask. Now she had to tell him that Alexey was attending the children’s Bible club. Vitaliano’s face turned red with anger. “You know I don’t want anything to do with religion!” he exploded. “Why did you let him go?” “Rosabel invited him,” Migdalia said. “Please, let him stay. He is learning such good things, and this is his only chance to be with other children.” A few minutes later Alexey arrived home. But when he saw his father’s face, he knew that he was in trouble. “Alexey,” his father said firmly. “I do not want you to go to that Bible club meeting again! I do not want God in this house!” Alexey didn’t want to disobey his father, so for several weeks he did not attend the Bible club. But when he heard the children singing, he longed to go. One evening he asked his mother if he could return to the Bible club. She agreed, and he happily ran to join the other children. Alexey attended the Bible club regularly after that. Then one evening his father again came home early and found Alexey gone. “Where is he?” he asked. When Migdalia did not answer promptly, he guessed. “Is he at that house church next door?” he stormed. Migdalia nodded. “Go get him, right now!” he demanded. “Please, Vitaliano,” she pleaded. “Let him go. It is better for him to be there than running in the streets. At least let him stay until the meeting is over.” A few minutes later Alexey bounded into the house. But when he saw his father’s angry look, Alexey began to cry. “Please don’t spank me, Papa!” he pleaded. But Vitaliano was not going to let his son disobey him. As he spanked him, he ordered, “You will not go back to that house church again!” To be continued...
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 03:53:01 +0000