A Lasting Legacy

Arthur Gordon tells the story of when he was about 13 and his brother 10, their dad promised to take them to the circus. While the family was eating lunch the phone rang --some urgent business that required their dad's attention downtown--and they braced themselves for disappointment. They were hanging their heads when they  heard him say, "No, I won't be able to come down. It's going to have to wait."

As soon as their dad came back to the table their mother smiled, "The circus keeps coming back, you know."

"I know," he said, "but childhood doesn't."

After forty years Gordon remember that moment. And he knew from the sudden glow of warmth that no kindness is ever really wasted or completely lost. Because the only thing you take with you to heaven is your family.

A pearl to string: That's a rich little story with lots of pearls to string.  The first one that stands out is a dad's wisdom in keeping a promise to his children.  Never make a promise unless death (Mt. 5:33-37^ESV)  is the only thing that prevents you from keeping that promise. There are so many people hurting in this life as a result of many broken promises. Too often it started with a dad breaking a promise to the child's mother. Kept promises light hope's way.

The second pearl I see is the mother honoring her husband. Parents need to be one in God's sight (Mal 2:15) and in their children's view too. To be united same page negotiation should be done out of ear shot of the children. Parents with differing points of view spell disaster for their children's future.  

I was really taken with the last line of that story. "all you take with you to heaven is your family".  Oh my goodness - I never thought of it that way..... ever.... but it's true isn't it.  The one thing you can take to heaven is your family.  Not at the same time of course.

The father to the children shall make known thy truth. (Isa. 38:19b) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (Jn. 3:16)

God gave us a Lasting Legacy

Jumping for JOY

                   Lyndi