A Hat for Ivan by Max Lucado

I was handed a stack of story-books last week by my VP to read and to pick from for my speech and drama lesson. To which I realised I brought home the wrong book I intended to plan for my lesson this week. So I had to settle with what I have.
It was a book by Max Lucado title "A Hat for Ivan"
Hmm. Interesting I thought. Never knew Max Lucado have storybooks for children.
I read through the book and was touched:) It was in line with the sermon by Pastor Prince on Father and son relationship.
It was a story of a young boy whose father was a Hat Maker. Ivan's father would create hats that were perfect for each person. At the age of ten each boy and girl in that town would celebrate Hat Day and Ivan was nine then and he would wonder how his hat would be like. As he walks pass the streets, he would meet different people like the Baker, the carpenter, the pianist...etc and they would ask him to try out their hats. It was either too big or it just didn't fit but Ivan would accept each one of them without wanting to hurt their feelings. Ivan always thought his hat would come from his father but now he thought he might have been wrong.
He became so tired taking on all the hats when he heard a voice from a distance
"Looks like you've had quite a day"
Ivan couldn't remember when a voice ever sounded so good. "Father!" he shouted, jumping up." You won't believe what happened today. Everybody gave me a hat and --"
"None of them fit" Ivan's father spoke up.
"That's right," said the boy.
"And they make you tired?" Ivan nodded.
"But you don't want to hurt anyone's feelings?" Ivan shook his head. His father put this arm around his son.
"That's right." Ivan stopped. "How did you know?"
I'm the hat maker, Ivan. I've seen what happens when people wear hats they weren't intended to wear. They feel silly. They fall down. And they get tired."
Ivan's father go down on his knee and wiped a smudge of dirt off his son's cheek.
"Listen, son, just because someone gives you a hat, that doesn't mean you are supposed to wear it. They mean well, but they don't know you. That's my job. I'm the hat-maker, and i'm your father."
"So you'll make a hat just for me?"
"I will. All you have to do is ask."
Oh, please, Father." Ivan smiled. "I would like that very much."
"Well, let's gather u these hats and go home then."
As the hat-maker and his child walked toward home, the father asked, "Tell me, Ivan, what do you really love to do?
The story ended with a picture of the dad cheerfully carrying all the hats that Ivan had collected. This story reminds me of the story of the prodigal son or myself. There are times I get discouraged with what I have or who I am and seek to have the things I see around me. I fail to ask Him for what I wish to see best for and in myself.
How tired and silly it could get when we try out things that were not meant for us. When we seek the opinion of others but the one who knows us best.
Your father gladly carries all the mistakes you have made. He smiles at you. He says to you, "Come home" and I'll make just the right hat for you that will fit you.