Legacy

This weekend we have been in Boss, MO celebrating my grandparent's (my dad's parents, I call them DaddyDon and Momeen) 70th wedding anniversary. It's quite a milestone, and so all of the family came in to celebrate. We're quite a bunch when we all get together. Our family has a long history in and around Boss. My relatives settled there a few generations ago, and there are still a lot of our family that live there today. When my grandparents retired in 1983, they decided to move back to the homestead for their golden years. Yesterday, we had a party at the Steven's steakhouse to celebrate the anniversary. And today, we all took part in the worship service at Boss Assembly of God. I am told that my great-great grandfather donated the land that the church sits on. DaddyDon pastored there in the 40's. I had the privilege of sharing in the service today, and am now the fifth generation in our family to have ministered in the church. As I was thinking back on this weekend, it struck me that we weren't just celebrating 70 years of marriage that has past, but a legacy that is only beginning. A legacy that is lived out in the lives of their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, not to mention the numerous families that they have ministered to through the years. (I realize this post is long, but hey, I haven't posted for a week.) There are a few lessons that I've learned through their legacy. The first is faithfulness to God's calling. DaddyDon's ministry took him through Missouri, Illinois, Florida and Colorado. He has always been passionate about the cause of Christ, and willing to go where God wanted him to go. Through his example, I have a better understanding of Psalm 100:5, "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever. His faithfulness continues through all generations." The second lesson I've learned from their legacy is perseverance. When I was a young boy, DaddyDon would take me fishing at Cherry Creek dam just outside of Denver. After we parked the truck, we couldn't just stop and fish where it was convenient. He had to make me walk over huge rocks for miles and miles (it was probably just a few hundred yards, but it seemed longer). But he knew that there was a payoff if we would take that walk. The fishing was much better on the other side. I know in their lives there have been plenty of "rocks" that they've had to climb over, but they understood what the bible meant in James 1:2 where it said, "Consider it pure joy my brothers, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." There are many more lessons that I could share, but I'll just share one more that sums it all up. Love. A love that lasts a lifetime is more than just a "butterflies in the stomach" feeling, but a deep commitment to each other no matter what the cost. I'm sure that their love hasn't been perfect over the years, but it's been the foundation on which their relationship has stayed strong. I Corinthians 13:4-7 is the textbook for how God loves us, and how we are to love others. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." A legacy of faithfulness, perseverance, and love is only possible when we dedicate ourselves to God and His purposes. My grandparent's legacy is really just a reflection of God's perfect faithfulness, perseverance, and love for all of us. When we accept Him, we begin a legacy for all who follow after us.