The last two weeks have been hard. Especially the week before Christmas, sitting in a hospital room in the ICU, waiting for my dad to leave this world. That was hard stuff but I am thinking about the legacy of a father, and my dad left a good one.
My dad was a unique and special man who lived his life well.
I have always known my dad was a good man but the full picture was made known to me last week. Stringing together his life and how he chose to live underlined, for me, the beauty of who my dad was.
He took good care of my mom and loved her so well. His love for his family, immediate and extended (even in-laws ) was something I watched all my life. He was an amazing grandfather. My kids- all of his grandchildren- knew they were loved by him. Not because he did anything special, but simply because he always went out of his way to let them know they were loved.
I listened to all the kind words people said about my dad at the visitation and the funeral, of how special he was. I felt special to have had such a man for my dad. My dad left a legacy of a father full of love for family, a life of faith, integrity, honesty and loyalty.
That’s when it hit me…not only do I have a rich heritage lived out before my eyes all during my life, but I am doubly blessed. I also have a legacy that is eternal. A legacy from the Father through Jesus Christ His Son, the most important legacy of them all.
The goodness of my earthly father doesn’t hold a candle to my heavenly Father. My earthly dad is gone from this world. I will see him again one day, but my heavenly Father, well He is always with me. He promised each of us that He would never leave us alone.
I find great comfort in that promise. This is a crazy, jacked up world. Anything can happen to anyone of us at any time and just like that, our time on earth will come to an end. It will you know. We’ve all been given a number of days that doesn’t even compare to the life after this one.
Two great legacies that I am honored to be a recipient of, but none as great as the eternal love of the Father above. For you and for me.
May 2020 be a year where you live intentionally in all that you do and love fully in all the special relationships in your lives. Most importantly, may you experience personally the love of the Father and find meaning and purpose through His Son Jesus.
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