For those who may not know this, my father raised me in a Christian home, I spent my whole young adult life in a churched environment. I wasn’t saved by it but became a born again Christian when I was 17 years old. Every morning, I literally mean every single morning that I can remember waking up early and walking around the house I recall seeing my father, kneeled down praying on our sofa. I could be cooking up breakfast, using the microwave, he’d be deep in prayer on our sofa, focused on talking with God. It took me years to incorporate his spirtual discipline of morning prayer or even to realize its benefits. There are things I wish I had done with my father growing up like, teach me baseball, teach me driving, show me how to play football, these would have been really nice, but my father left me a rich inheritance that I cherish beyond all of these. He showed me God.
He LIVES the gospel, he LIVES a life that exemplifies Christ and still to this day I see God through his life. HE is an example of God’s grace and demonstrates it all the time.
When he was insulted by people, he trusted and served well, he remained humble and only prayed for those who hurt him, when he suffered a family loss one after the other after the other, he prayed to God for strenth, peace and even performed the funerals himself. Never blaming God but honoring and worshiping God through the pain.
His legacy, my inheritance from him is…God deserves all the glory, no matter what we endure here on earth. I have learned, Got a problem? Pray about it. Got an opportunity? Pray about it. Feeling angry or hurt? Pray about it. In and through all things, pray about it. My father left me an inheritance that is eternal, a life that points to Christ, what else could have more value? Nothing. I realize this has been the greatest gift I can leave my kids, I am working hard to help them in their future, sure, who wouldn’t want that? If I can demonstrate that Christ is alive and he lives in me, they too can inherit and share eternal life with others.
What inheritance has a family or friend left for you?
Your father sounds like an amazing man. My father too left me a great inheritance of faith. I was raised in church. I remember seeing my dad cry frequently while worshiping God and I remember thinking, “real men do cry”.
He taught me to give even when you don’t much, to not judge those different from you, to show kindness even when it’s not given to you and to have faith that God still does miracles.
He lived his faith. And while his passing was sad because I miss him, I am happy and comforted to know I will see him again!
Bless you today TC, thank you for sharing something so personal.
Grown men and real men cry, yes, and its great too.
M_
That’s an awesome legacy your father left you.
I’ve been thinking of this lately now that I have two little ones. For certain books, I’ll purposefully buy printed copies rather than Ebooks – and I’ll make a lot of notes in the margins and underline a lot of things. I’m hoping to display those books prominently in the home. My hope is that one day my kids will pick one up and start reading. It’s exciting to think of the notes that I write as not just for my own edification but hopefully for theirs one day.
I love your idea, after reading so much about John Maxwell, his father made him read books all the time. Look at that legacy!!
I have been thinking about something similar, I leave books out, let the kids see me read. Great way to pass on somwthing of signigicance.
M_
My grandpa taught me that, no matter what, you have to be a man of your word – even if it means you miss out on something fun because you made a previous commitment. Being trustworthy and showing people that they can rely on you is important.
Preach it Jason, Jesus said let your yes be yes and your no be no
M_
Wow! What a beautiful tribute to a great man. My Dad worshipped quietly. He was an honest man who would have given you the shirt off his back. He was a man of integrity; corruption wasn’t even in his vocabulary. He had the best sense of humor, ever, so he left me laughter. Sometimes I miss him so much I cannot breathe. That is when God reminds me of the laughter – and that the Reunion is coming soon.
Thanks Marc for sharing your Dad with us. Your children are blessed to have you as their inheritance.