the tale of the bald head

Dr. Ford shared this story in class today and it was really touching.
A father with a beautiful head of hair had many children who also had beautiful heads of hair.
One of his children was habitually late and missed curfew. The father fed up with his son's tardiness threatened his son that the next time he was late he would shave his head.
The son heard his father and was determined to get home and not miss curfew again. He knew this was a threat. He also was 16 and concerned with his appearance as most teenage boys are.

Well the next week circumstances beyond the sons control made him 5 minutes late. He was so upset about the situation. When he came in, there was his father standing with the clippers.
His son immediately pleaded with the Father and tried to explain the situation and the father didn't relent. He said that he had told the son what would happen if he was late and he was going to keep his word. He told his son to go into the kitchen.

The son not wanting to lose his beautiful hair, threatened his father that he would never listen to him again--he would go into drugs and alcohol. But the father pulled out a chair and told him that he was serious.

The father then took the chair and said, "I am going to keep my word and shave your head, but I am willing to go through this with you. So here, take the clippers and shave my head first." The son wasn't terribly excited about that. He thought of his fathers job and how he couldn't have a shaved head. He thought of his calling as bishop in church. He told his dad he was fine and he would take the punishment.

His father insisted and with tears in both their eyes the son and father shaved each others heads.