A LEGACY BUILDING DAD

On Becoming A Dad

I love being a dad! Becoming a dad was one of the greatest moments in life. When we had our first child, I can clearly remember the very first cry, the first touch, and the overwhelming emotion. My first child had an impact on me. Being a father to this little man inspired and galvanized me to walk with God in a new and deeper way. If you were like me, the first thought you had, as you held your newborn baby, was “What do I do now? Or I hope I don’t drop him! Then you probably prayed, Lord, help me to be the father you want me to be.”

After the first initial emotions subsided, I realized the immense responsibility that came with fatherhood. Since then, we've added two more children to our family. Raising little human beings and seeing them mature into adulthood is a satisfying feeling. This is why I love being a dad.

My childhood was quite different. My parents divorced when I was six months old. For years, I walked around with a “father wound.” I wanted, needed a dad in my life. I can clearly remember as a young boy looking at older men and asking them if they were my dad. I was twelve years old when I had my first significant conversation with my dad over the phone. He was drunk. His words to me still ring loud and clear - “When I see you. I’m going to hang you.” The reason why he said that was because I wrote him a letter telling him that he was not my dad because he was never there for me. It wasn't until years later that I was able to forgive my dad. A few years before he died, God brought him back into our lives. By God's great mercy, my relationship with my dad was completely restored befor he passed away in 2009. I don’t have much from dad’s legacy but I have a constant reminder to build a godly legacy for my kids.

Becoming A Legacy Builder

I've been thinking about the idea of legacy recently. I was reading a story about a name named Sylvester Graham. Sylvester was born in 1794, and his name would become a household name. He was known for his love of wheat products and was called The Poet of Bran, Bread, and Pumpkins. One of his goals was to get people to stop eating bread of any kind other than that made of whole wheat. He caused such a stir in 1847 that a riot broke out in Boston. All the bakers were intent on lynching him because his message was hindering their business. Even though Sylvester Graham was a pastor, his ministry bore little fruit. However, his passion for ground wheat flour lived on. In fact, it can still be bought today, in the form of a cracker, The Graham Cracker, a name in honor of himself. Sylvester's legacy… is the Graham Cracker.

Even though I admire Sylvester Graham and his legacy of a the graham cracker, I want to leave a legacy to my children that is more than a cracker. I desire to leave a legacy of deep roots and strong wings. A legacy is something handed down from one generation to another. Whether you are intentional or not, every father will leave a lasting mark on his children. Let's do this by design and not by default.

What Is Legacy?

Legacy is not what you do for yourself. It's what you do for the next generation. Your spiritual legacy as a father is being built with every decision, word, and action. When I think of legacy, I fast-forward to my funeral and what my kids will remember me for. Hopefully they will remember my deep devotion and love for them, my example of a patient husband, and my unwavering commitment to God.

As you ponder your own legacy, I want to leave you with the words of an Old Testament sage - Solomon. He speaks of the “legacy” a father will leave to his children.

Proverbs 20:7 “The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.”

Question to consider: What type of legacy do you want to leave your children?

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