Since I’m finally approaching maturity at the age of 90, I realize that I have made a lot of mistakes in my life. I am not going to beat myself up over my mistakes, as Augustine said, “Trust the past to God’s mercy, the present to God’s love and the future to God’s providence.” My hope is that others can use what I’ve learned from experience to keep from making the same mistakes as me. Proverbs 24:14. Psalms 90:12.
One mistake I made was not leading my family in worship. I think it’s something that a lot of people don’t put enough importance on. I thought my children would get their Christian training at church. Fortunately they did, but that doesn’t take the place of family worship. We should be the example they follow. They need to see their parents praying, worshiping and praising God at home as well as at church.
Another mistake people make, especially men, is not spending enough time with their children. Although I did a pretty good job at that with my four children, I was like many men and spent a lot of time trying to take care of the physical needs of my family. It is a responsibility of a man to provide for his family, but he doesn’t need to overlook the importance of spending time with them. You can give your children things, but what they truly desire is your time and attention. In giving them yourself, they realize their importance in your life.
I do a lot of reading these days, one of my favorite authors is Billy Graham. In his book, “Nearing Home” Graham says, “The greatest legacy you can pass on to your children and grandchildren is the legacy of your character and faith. The same is true of other young people who know us and observe us even if they aren’t related to us.”
One of my most cherished memories of my dad is from when I came home from WWII. Communication wasn’t what it is today so my parents and family in Kentucky didn’t even know I was headed home. As my dad greeted me, he told me that he had been praying for me and knew in his heart I was coming home. He said, “I felt as if I could feel every footstep you took.” What a wonderful legacy of faith my father gave me with that statement. Just recently I told this story to my daughter, only then, did it occur to me just how important it is that we pass things like these on to the next generation.
As men, God calls us to lead our families by example in all the things that we say and do. Even at 90, I aspire to be like the man described in Psalm 1:1-3.
