There was a very rich man who possessed many possessions, and an only son, his heir, who liked to throw parties and be with his friends, and never listened to his father's advice.
One day, the old father, already advanced in age, told his servants to build a small barn.
Inside it, the father himself made a gallows and, next to it, a sign that read: So you never again despise the words of your father.
And he said to his son, I am already old and, when I depart, you will take care of everything...
Perhaps you will leave the farm in the hands of the servants, sell all your possessions to support yourself and waste everything. And when you have nothing left, your friends will turn away from you, and only then will you bitterly repent of not heeding your father.
That is why I built this gallows, it is for you!
I want you to promise that, if what I said happens, you will hang yourself on it.
The young man laughed, thought it was absurd, but, so as not to contradict his father, he promised, thinking that this could never happen.
Time passed, the father died, and his son took care of everything, but, just as his father had foreseen, the young man wasted everything, sold his possessions, lost his friends and even his own dignity.
Desperate and distressed, he began to reflect on his life and saw that he had been a fool.
And he remembered his father's words.
Sorrowfully, the young man lifted his eyes and glimpsed the small barn.
With slow steps, he made his way there and entering, he saw the gallows and the sign covered in dust, and then he thought:
I never followed my father's words, I could not please him when he was alive, but, at least this time, I will do his will, I will keep my promise.
I have nothing left...
Then, he climbed the steps and placed the rope around his neck, and thought:
Ah, if only I had one more chance...
Then, he threw himself from the top of the steps and, for an instant, he felt the rope
tighten around his throat...
But the arm of the gallows was hollow and broke easily and the boy fell
to the ground.
Upon him fell jewels, emeralds, pearls, rubies, sapphires and diamonds,
the gallows was full of precious stones and a note.
On it was written:
This is your new chance.
With love, your old and already missed father.
God is exactly like that.
When we repent, He always gives us a new chance
Article sent by the church leadership in Ribeirão Preto - SP.