By Harold Keller / L’Observateur / April 13, 1999

Tuesday morning, I attended the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast in Baton Rouge. Sixteen hundred people gathered at 6:30 a.m. I would be naive tothink that all were there to pray and worship God. I’m sure the governorwas the main attraction, with Congressman J.C. Watts from Oklahoma aclose second.

His political party, the Republicans, considers Rep. Watts a valuable asset.Being a black Republican makes him very popular with the Republicans, but the majority of his own race resents him for his political association.

(That’s hard for me to understand, but it’s a fact.)Watts is from a small town in Oklahoma. He was an All-Americanquarterback at the University of Oklahoma, was voted the most valuable player at the Orange Bowl, played pro football, and is a successful businessman. He now holds a position, not only in the Congress as a U.S.Representative, but is also an elected leader of his party in the House.

After a very flattering introduction by Congressman Billy Tauzin and a standing ovation, this was his message in brief: “Yes, I held many prestigious positions in athletics, politics and business, but the title that I treasure the most is the title of Daddy,” he said. “Myresponsibilities with that position is more important than any other title that I may have.”He referred to Matthew, Chapter 18. When people questioned Jesus aboutwho would be the greatest in His kingdom, He answered with action by picking up a little child, sat the child on His knee, and said, ‘You have to become as a little child to enter the kingdom,’ “That story tells it all,” Watts said. He continued, “As we grow up, we become proud. We becometoo educated, too sophisticated, too mature and too dignified to act as children.”He shared how his little boy can run through the house with a football and dive on the sofa, imagining he just scored the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl. “That’s how Jesus wants us to be – free, pure, full of joy andwith unwavering faith,” he said.

He also shared about the time his little girl was playing with a balloon and it popped. She immediately picked up the pieces, ran to him and saidwith confidence, “Fix it.” “That’s the faith of a little child,” he said. “Sheexpected me, her earthly father, to do the impossible. I couldn’t fix theballoon, but I was reminded that my Heavenly Father can fix anything that’s broken, in my life or yours, if we just have the faith of a little child.”In closing, Watts said, “Let’s remember what Jesus answered in Matthew 18. He didn’t say the greatest would be those who tithed or those whoexcelled in athletics. He didn’t even mention that you had to be a pastor, adeacon, or an evangelist. All He said was that you had to become as a littlechild.”I needed to be in Baton Rouge Tuesday morning to hear what God was speaking to me through His un-ashamed servant, Rep. J.C. Watts.

Harold Keller is a regular columnist for L’Observateur

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