LEAVING A GODLY LEGACY

The Upward Look, by Jon Forrest
Leaving a Godly Legacy
 
Things My Mother Taught Me...

My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE
"If you’re going kill each other, do it outside - I just finished cleaning!"

My mother taught me RELIGION
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

My mother taught me LOGIC
"Because I said so, that’s why."

My mother taught me HOW TO MEET A CHALLENGE
“Answer me when I talk to you! Don’t talk back to me!”

My mother taught me FORESIGHT
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident."

My mother taught me IRONY
"Keep laughing and I’ll give you something to cry about."

My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper!"

My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM
"Will you look at the dirt on the back of your neck!"

My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION
"Stop acting like your father!"

My mother taught me about ENVY
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have a wonderful mother like you do!"

My mother taught me about JUSTICE
“One day you’ll have kids and I hope they turn out just like you!”
-copied

While every mom has said some funny things (unintentional as they were) they have done something more powerful than the words they shared. They gave us an example to learn from and to follow.

My Mom taught me a healthy fear of motorcycles, water and spiders. She told me that if I rode a motorcycle it would kill me. She wouldn’t let me get near any lake, river, or stream because I would fall in and they would find my body someday. When our daughter, Shannon was only 6, my Mom was driving a van with her in the passenger seat. Shannon saw a granddaddy longlegs spider crawling on Mom and told her, “Grandma, there’s a spider on you.” She went into such a panic that they ran off the road and hit a culvert, flipping the van end over end. Shannon and my little brother, Jason, were okay. Mom spent a few days in the hospital, but everyone came out alright.

On the other hand, my mom has always been a woman of great faith. She was the one who suggested to my Dad, when they were in early stages of serving in a direct support Christian mission and the support had not all been pledged, that they tithe based on their need and not the income. They took the step and within a short time the money was pledged.

She worked hard to keep my brothers and me well fed, well dressed and to make sure we had a grasp on personal responsibility. Along with my Dad, she supported her four sons and helped us to develop our talents. If we had an interest or a talent, she and Dad made sure we had every opportunity to develop it. She wouldn’t let us give up easily, but if we learned it wasn’t for us, she didn’t condemn or put us down for it.

Above all, she taught us God’s Word by lesson and example. She made sure that we were always in church, Sunday School and youth groups. When we were in smaller churches, she often led the classes or youth groups so we could have them.

This Sunday we will look at A Mom Who Beat the Odds based on 2 Kings 22:1-2 and a few other passages. Come and be encouraged and challenged. This message is for everyone, not just Moms because each of us can learn from this powerful text.

Thankful for a legacy to follow,
Jon