Happy Father’s Day! This is my 17th Father’s Day without my dad. When this holiday rolls around each year, I find myself thinking about my father’s legacy. I think about the lessons he taught me, the memories we have together, and the parts of him that live on in me. Perhaps you think about those same things when you think about your dad.
Father’s Legacy of Perseverance
The prevailing themes of my dad’s life and legacy are perseverance, faith, and hope. He persevered through physical pain and major health concerns for the last 26 years of his life. Through 9 back operations and 5 open heart surgeries, daily pain, limited mobility, and handfuls of medications each day, his faith in Jesus never waivered. He wasn’t perfect, God knows that for sure. But, his perseverance and faith are worthy of remembrance.
Father’s Legacy of Faith
My dad was a bi-vocational preacher before he became disabled. He continued to preach occasionally throughout the years. One sermon he preached stuck with me. He preached from Philippians 1:12-20 about Paul’s suffering and how his suffering – and how he endured it – ultimately glorified God. Paul wrote, “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear … that I am in chains for Christ…and because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord…” Paul goes one to write in verses 19-20, “for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body….” (NIV)
Father’s Legacy of Hope
Daddy knew his life was a testimony. Those verses he used for his sermon that day could have been written by him about his own life. He understood that people watched how he handled the continued medical setbacks, the struggle to walk, the need for oxygen, and perpetual hospital stays. God didn’t inflict him with those health issues, but my dad’s perseverance and unwavering faith through those health issues was used by God to give people hope and strength. My dad knew that. He saw how people reacted to his story and knew the impact his faith through the struggles had on those around him, how his perseverance was a testament to God’s goodness and faithfulness. He knew his perseverance provided hope to many.
I once asked my mom and dad how they still had faith after all the years of struggle and all my dad’s health issues. They replied they believed my dad would be healed. They acknowledged he may not get healed the way we want to see him healed here on earth, but he will be healed one day. That’s faith and hope.
Father’s Legacy to Fight the Good Fight
His life was testimony to so many people, but none more important than his own children who had a front row seat to all our parents went through. The three of us watched his daily struggles and knew, more than anyone else, how difficult his life, and ours, really was. Yet, he and my mom persevered through it all. (My mom is a saint in case you don’t know!) Each of us faced our own struggles in life, as does everyone on this earth, yet, we have been given a legacy of perseverance and hope. Our dad taught us to persevere through it all and to never give up. I’ve had many struggles and obstacles to fight through, but having watched my dad fight through his daily life, I know I can endure my struggles. Our dad left us a legacy of hope. I hope for a better tomorrow and a better future. I have faith that God will provide, as He always does, and that gives me hope and the ability to press on.
Return to Glory
Paul wrote in Romans 5:3-5 (NIV), “…but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Our family has a whole lotta character from all the sufferings and perseverance! But, we also have a whole lotta hope.
When my dad died, he was in a hospital bed in the living room. At the head of the bed was a bookcase and, front and center on that bookcase, was a sports magazine with Alabama’s Gene Stallings, lifted by his players after a national championship, with the words, “Return to Glory.” Our pastor noted how fitting that was. Indeed, it was fitting since my dad had returned to glory and we “glory in our sufferings” because it ultimately produces hope, and “hope does not put us to shame.” That’s my dad’s legacy.
Father’s Legacy
What legacy did your dad leave you? Dads, what legacy are you leaving your children? If you have breath in your lungs, you are building your legacy. Your legacy may be as a great business person, entrepreneur, or you may have overcome some obstacle and learned valuable lessons you passed on to your children. Reflect on your legacy and the legacy you want to leave. What are you doing to cultivate that legacy? What do you need to do? You still have time. Press on.
Happy Father’s Day!
From Tanya at Huntsville Estate Planning Lawyer, LLC, HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!! And, if you need to do legacy planning as to your assets, reach out to me and I’ll be happy to assist.
