Creating a Heritage
I grew up with a rich Christian heritage, receiving from my parents the treasure of Christ. Realizing that not all have had this experience, I would not want in any way to minimize either the joys of my heritage or the sorrows of other’s lives. Childhood experiences profoundly affect (for good or ill) all of us for all of life.
My particular childhood opportunities have long led me to the sobering conviction that since, indeed, I have been given a richer heritage than some, I have a greater responsibility (Luke 12:48). Please know that God will require of each of us according to what He has entrusted to us; no more and no less. God is sovereign over our times and our dwellings (Acts 17:26), and He has a reason for each.
But along with this I want to offer you both hope and challenge.
My dad was a first generation Christian. He did not come to faith until he was 23. Raised in extreme material poverty (his was the poorest family in town), Dad also suffered abject spiritual poverty. Inheriting a “futile way of life from his forefathers”, he had no Christian heritage, no rich spiritual family tree, and no knowledge of the Bible, the gospel, or the ways of God until his wonderful conversion in a tiny Massachusetts country church.
Dad married Mom when he was 26 and she 23. Mom’s childhood had been shattered by a drunken father, the tragedy of divorce (when Mom was two), and the trauma of poverty (hers too, was the poorest family in her town). Remarkably, in the midst of such massive dysfunctionality, Mom came to faith in Christ at 14.
The divine union of these two was the seed of a new spiritual family tree. They had five children who have gone on with Christ, and a sixth who, though not a believer, was a loving and devoted son until their recent passing. Of their 36 grandchildren, dozens have embraced Jesus as their Savior. Among their children and grandchildren are pastors, teachers, counselors, wonderful moms and faithful dads, dedicated nurses, defenders of their country, and second and third generation Christian families.
Here’s how their spiritual heritage developed. Dad and Mom:
1. Never made excuses based on their past; they just got down to the business of Christian living and faithful parenting.
2. Took God at His word, believing His promises and obeying His commands for Christian parents.
3. Believed children were a gift from God and always cherished us as such.
4. Spent and were spent on their children.
5. Broke the cycle of futility inherited from their parents and started a new spiritual family tree that will still be bearing fruit one thousand generations from now.
6. Would tell you (were they here today) to live in parental hope, for the same God who helped them start a new heritage of faith has promised to help you, too.
If you are a parent or one who thinks one day you will be or one who is single but wants to invest in the coming generations, I encourage you to create a heritage for the glory of God!
My particular childhood opportunities have long led me to the sobering conviction that since, indeed, I have been given a richer heritage than some, I have a greater responsibility (Luke 12:48). Please know that God will require of each of us according to what He has entrusted to us; no more and no less. God is sovereign over our times and our dwellings (Acts 17:26), and He has a reason for each.
But along with this I want to offer you both hope and challenge.
My dad was a first generation Christian. He did not come to faith until he was 23. Raised in extreme material poverty (his was the poorest family in town), Dad also suffered abject spiritual poverty. Inheriting a “futile way of life from his forefathers”, he had no Christian heritage, no rich spiritual family tree, and no knowledge of the Bible, the gospel, or the ways of God until his wonderful conversion in a tiny Massachusetts country church.
Dad married Mom when he was 26 and she 23. Mom’s childhood had been shattered by a drunken father, the tragedy of divorce (when Mom was two), and the trauma of poverty (hers too, was the poorest family in her town). Remarkably, in the midst of such massive dysfunctionality, Mom came to faith in Christ at 14.
The divine union of these two was the seed of a new spiritual family tree. They had five children who have gone on with Christ, and a sixth who, though not a believer, was a loving and devoted son until their recent passing. Of their 36 grandchildren, dozens have embraced Jesus as their Savior. Among their children and grandchildren are pastors, teachers, counselors, wonderful moms and faithful dads, dedicated nurses, defenders of their country, and second and third generation Christian families.
Here’s how their spiritual heritage developed. Dad and Mom:
1. Never made excuses based on their past; they just got down to the business of Christian living and faithful parenting.
2. Took God at His word, believing His promises and obeying His commands for Christian parents.
3. Believed children were a gift from God and always cherished us as such.
4. Spent and were spent on their children.
5. Broke the cycle of futility inherited from their parents and started a new spiritual family tree that will still be bearing fruit one thousand generations from now.
6. Would tell you (were they here today) to live in parental hope, for the same God who helped them start a new heritage of faith has promised to help you, too.
If you are a parent or one who thinks one day you will be or one who is single but wants to invest in the coming generations, I encourage you to create a heritage for the glory of God!
3 Comments:
Wonderful story Tim... thank you. Would love to have met your dad and mom.
Tim, very encouraging to hear. Like your Dad, I am the first in my family to embrace Christ. Marybeth is the first in her family as well. While I (we) have come a long way by the grace of God, we still fight for every inch of turf progressing toward eternal life. Always tempted by worldly default modes of living. I wish I had a Godly father in this life. I have so many questions I would have asked him. I say this pushing back tears. We push through the dark of this world, with the light and guidance of the word of God, our church and godly brothers and sisters.
We have a new family now, new siblings, new fathers and mothers in Christ. May our familiar love be redirected to our new family. May we "be there" for one another.
May we build a heritage at TFC that goes on, God willing, for a thousand generations.
My thoughts on your blog today.
JR
The Finishers group that meets irregularly has a shared vision for creating many flourishing relationships in which meaningful older to younger connections will be built. We'd love it if there were no one who had to do without when it comes to spiritual parents. It is exciting to realize how many young couples have the chance to begin the sort of heritage spoken of by TMS. By the grace of God, it will happen!
tdb
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home