"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
I had always told myself that it would be the worst day of my life. It was. June 11, 2001--the day my father passed away. Dad was a strong, tough man who worked harder than almost anyone I know. He could sock you in the gut and have you feeling good about it five seconds later. He was very funny, quietly generous, and just plain nice to people.
My father was also a true hero. Not only did he serve over half of his life in the military, fighting in both Korea and Vietnam, but he also saved my life on two separate occasions. The first was when he and Mom adopted me at the mere age of three, giving me a new chance at life. The second was at age 19, when--after spending six years abusing my parents trust--he allowed me to move back home because I was so strung out on drugs that I was suicidal.
If you've never lost someone you love, you will. It doesn't matter your religion, race, or creed, someone you know is going to slip into eternity. And when it happens, it is earth shattering. When my father died, I was so overcome that I holed myself up in my house for days, too depressed to do anything. But the Lord sent a friend of mine to encourage me. His dad had died the year before. I will never forget what he told me that day. He said in no disrespect at all to my fathers passing that I needed to shake it off and move on. My wife needed me. My son needed me. My time to mourn as a son was over, and I needed to move on as a father.
Wow. That shook me to my core. Even though these words didnt stop the pain of missing him, it put my own life into perspective. It reminded me that all of us are eternal souls. It reminded me that life is short, no matter how long we live. It made me consider what kind of legacy I am going to leave behind with my family and friends.
In the end, it all comes down to two things: do I know Christ as Lord and do I invest in the relationships with those around me? Am I really being Jesus to my wife and son? To my friends? Am I consumed by the little annoyances in life, or am I sacrificing myself at every opportunity so those around me can see who Jesus really is?
Years before, Dad had chosen to trust Christ with his life...and his death. He ran the race, and he fought the good fight. Some days, he gave all he had to give; and others, well, he wasn't so godly. But he crossed the finish line into Heaven. If I couldn't let go of my grief, I would miss out on giving to my son the legacy that my dad gave to me. Thats part of the beauty of death in Christ. Its a new beginning. For Dad: eternal life. For me: a rite of passage from son to father.
Today's prayer: "God, I pray that You would help me to re-prioritize things in my life. Help me to see how fragile we are and how much strength there is in You. I desire to leave a Godly legacy for those around me, so please show me how to rid my life of anything that would hinder that. Thank you for the gift of life, and I pray I would never take it for granted. Amen."
For more on the great band, Jonah33, click here. I'm hoping for an interview myself soon, so check back.
