THE HEADMASTER FROM HELL

Part 4 - DANIEL'S CHOICE

Daniel was nervous but he knew he had to do it. He had been putting it off for long enough now. It was time to tell his parents he had found God. He wasn't sure how they would react since  they were unbelievers. But he had been hiding the religious cross he was wearing around his neck from them for months and he was sure they would see him wearing it anyway sooner or later. Plus he was tired of hiding it from them. 

He told them he needed to talk and the three of them sat down together

''Is there something wrong?'' his mother asked him with concern

''I'm not sure really'' Daniel said ''i hope nothing is wrong but i am not sure how you will react to what i have to tell you''

''Son if you're in trouble i would like it if you just came clean and told us at once'' his father said

Poor Daniel's mother was already fearing the worst ''I know you've had something on your mind lately'' she told him ''tell us honestly are you in serious trouble?''

''No in fact quite the opposite'' Daniel told them ''I've found God''

Daniel started to undo the top buttons on his plaid shirt to show his parents his cross

''I found God months ago but i was afraid to tell you. But i knew i would have to tell you eventually''

Daniel's parents were shocked

''Well i really wasn't expecting that'' his mother said at last ''i don't know what to say about it really''

''It is a problem for you?'' Daniel asked them

''No'' his mother said at once ''I mean if you really believe it then that's up to you and I won't give you a hard time...I just find it strange that's all. You weren't brought up around religion and none of us are religious so how did you find it now?''

Daniel bowed his head in shame. Now for the bit where he would have to admit to something he was not proud of  ''Look a few months ago I was caught shoplifting. The manager of the shop said he would not report me to the police if I attended his church group. He said he wanted to save me and bring me to Jesus and he gave me a bible to read''

Now Daniels parents were really upset

''You shoplifted?' his mother said upset ''I am really very upset to hear this son. I brought you up never to steal''

''Yes what I did was wrong, a very weak moment. I can't even really explain why i did it it was stupid. But thing is it's ok because that sinful act led me to God and I repented and turned away from sin. Even though what I did was bad it turned out for the best in the end. Maybe that is the reason i shoplifted. God wanted me to do it so that it would lead me to him. I would never have met the guy from the church and been led to God without it''

''Ok so who is this church group then? What sort of people are they? What do you do there?'' his father asked wanting to probe for more details

''It's just a group who meet to share their faith and they work hard to find others to bring to the flock. They really were determined to help lead me to the Lord'' Daniel told them

Both parents were concerned

''This sounds a bit sinister to me like they brainwashed you'' his mother said

''They certainly did not brainwash me.'' Daniel insisted ''They guided me that's all, they guided me with love. They told me I must accept the Lord into my heart or else its punishment in hell''

''Yes they scared you I see. Manipulative Christians will always use hell to threaten and scare people into believing''

Daniel shook his head urgently ''No they had to warn me about hell of course but they also told me the Lord loves me and will accept me into his kingdom as long as I submit to him and turn away from sin and serve and worship him I will not be punished in hell''