Celebrating Men and Their Legacy

Legacy Defined

1 : a gift by will especially of money or other personal property : bequest She left us a legacy of a million dollars. 2 : something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past the legacy of the ancient philosophers The war left a legacy of pain and suffering.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legacy

We’ve been talking about Legacy this summer. I thought we might want to define what a legacy is. According to the above, anything we leave behind whether it be money, property, or memories and emotions.

I believe the most important thing to leave behind is not cash and property. These things do not last. But the spiritual legacy we leave lasts forever.

Legacies Left By Women

I was thrilled to read about all the legacy stories of women in our lives last month. There were several of us that have been inspired by Elisabeth Elliot and evidently many of us were sure to read the posts about her. The most read post, Do The Next Thing by Beth Willis Miller wrote about Elisabeth Elliott as well including Elisabeth poem by the same name. If you haven’t read it, be sure to click and read it.

The Women’s Legacy Link-up is closed for additional links; however, you can still go read all of them if you missed them.

Are We Creating Weak Men?

In my opinion, men have been beaten down and disrespected too much in our society. In an effort to increase equality for women we have created an atmosphere where the legacy of men does not matter. Everywhere we turn women are being praised and lifted high but men are ignored and treated as if they have nothing to share. It is no wonder that young boys are not finding value in life. They are not encouraged to make anything of themselves.

Dr. James Dobson said,

“Nations that are populated largely by immature, immoral, weak-willed, cowardly, and self-indulgent men cannot and will not long endure. These types of men include those who sire and abandon their children; who cheat on their wives; lie, steal, and covet; who hate their countrymen; and who serve no god but money. That is the direction culture is taking today’s boys.” 

― James C. Dobson, Bringing Up Boys

What’s the Difference?

While in the ministry, my husband and I always enjoyed putting together a celebration celebrating women on Mother’s Day and Men on Father’s Day. It was strange to me that for Mother’s Day I could ask and receive many very nice gifts (and sometimes expensive) for door prizes. But it was like pulling teeth to get businesses to donate for Father’s Day. It just didn’t seem to be as important. I don’t get it. Why do we not value the great men in our lives?

Let’s Celebrate the Legacy of Men

This month we will celebrate Father’s Day. So let’s celebrate some of the men who have left or are leaving great legacies behind for the men to follow. This could be your dad or grandfather or even a step father. Below I will give you examples of men who have inspired me.

1. My Father

My father was a dairy farmer. A kind and compassionate man. He loved giving great big bear hugs, still does. However, he says that I was the one who taught him to hug. That story is on my memoirs blog, Raised in a Barn.

I respect my father and hold him high on a pedestal. In his day, he was a great leader. Not only did he teach and lead at church as a layman, but he was also a community leader. He is still a member of the Gideons International. Most of us have encountered the Gideons and may have a Gideon Bible to prove it.

Dad also led on the school boards both in our community in Ohio and then again in Wisconsin until all six of his children graduated from high school. I am confident that Dad led the way for many actions on the board. However, as a kid, the one thing I enjoyed the most: he initiated the idea to serve chocolate milk in the schools. Cool!

He was always proud of his kids. His kids lived respectable lives mainly because he never let us get by without being obedient and respectful. I’m proud to say that all of us turned out to be upstanding citizens with a great work ethic.

There are many things my dad would quote like “Who left the lights on? Do you think we own the electric company?” (Actually, since it was a co-op, I guess we did own it. ha!) But here’s my favorite. It always showed me his pride for his family; never any regret for having six children. And how much he loves us.

³ Children are a gift from the Lord;
    they are a reward from him.
⁴ Children born to a young man
    are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
⁵ How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
    He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

Psalm 127:3-5 NLT

2. Biblical Men Who Inspire Me

It’s hard to really nail down any one man in the Bible who inspired me the most. But King David is right up at the top of the list. I am ever so grateful for his writings in the Psalms. I run to them nearly every day. David wrote his feelings out and when I read them, I feel he has read my mind.

David’s life proves that no matter what you go through God is always there beside you. God has got your back and your front and your head. I call this “The God Sandwich”. It’s a group hug with only you, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We can’t feel more love than this… completely covered by His love.

You go before me and follow me.
    You place your hand of blessing on my head.

Psalm 139:5 NLT

David’s Life Inspires Me

Isn’t it also comforting to know that the man who was “a man after God’s own heart” was also susceptible to sin? This fact encourages me because it shows me that we all can falter even those close to God. But here’s the key: When Nathan rebuked David about his sin, David immediately repented. David Left a legacy that we can follow, a man/woman after God’s own heart.

The legacy I want to follow is like King David, a man/woman after God's own heart. #legacy #leavingalegacy Share on X

3. Just a Few Good Men of Legacy

Again, finding just one to speak of is too difficult for my mind. God has placed great men all down through history. Men who have preached the Word. I think of John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, and Billy Graham who had throngs of people wanting to hear their messages. These men led millions to salvation. Great revivals broke out because of their obedience to God.

And men who have lived out the Word, such as missionaries Jim Elliot and David Livingston.

Business Men Creating Legacy

• David Green made waves in 2014 when Hobby Lobby defeated the federal government’s requirement that closely held companies cover certain types of birth control medication and procedures that many Christians believe are abortifacients. Green’s 680 craft stores always close on Sunday.
  
• Dan Cathy became the CEO of Chick-fil-A after his father, S. Truett Cathy, passed away in 2014. Truett Cathy started in the restaurant business in 1946 and opened his first Chick-Fil-A in Atlanta in 1967. He was a conservative Christian who, like Hobby Lobby’s David Green, chose to have his restaurants closed on Sundays.
• Read Newsmax: 4 Current Most Successful Christians in Business | Newsmax.com 

4. And Men who Use their Talents for God

Tim Tebow, a football player who took a lot of flack for giving God glory at the ball games. His football career gave him the platform to share Christianity all over the world. He founded an organization to serve children, sharing God’s love… “by fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves.”

Every year he sponsors a prom for the handicapped called “Night to Shine”. In 2018 alone, 537 churches nationwide and in 16 countries, supported by 175,000 volunteers, celebrated 90,000 kings and queens at Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love, for people with special needs. See the Tim Tebow Foundation.

Huck’s Heroes

I love the Segment, Huck’s Heroes on The Huckabee Show. Every week he celebrates someone who is living out the love of Christ in their community. Here’s one that recently aired.

Where are the Good Men?

These days, We can become discouraged when we look around. It seems the devil is winning and no one is serving the Lord anymore. But the more things changes, the more they stay the same really. All down through history, it would seem that evil would prevail. Take encouragement from the account from Elijah in 1 Kings 19,

And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
¹⁴ He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
15 Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram.¹⁶ Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi^[b] to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet.¹⁷ Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! ¹⁸ Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”

1 Kings 19

Click to Nominate a Huck’s Hero

---

There is always a remnant

Remember, you are not alone. God is preserving His church for that glorious day when He returns to gather His children. Keep the faith, my friend. You are not alone. Hold to the Lord. Remember what Paul wrote to the Philippians, even while in prison.

Live as Citizens of Heaven

²⁷ Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.²⁸ Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. ²⁹ For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. ³⁰ We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

Philippians 1:27-30

What Men Inspire You to Keep the Faith? #legacy #leavingalegacy Share on X

Legacy Link-Up is Open til June 30

Click on this image to link-up!

Hope to see you there!

P.S. Coming Soon

This summer we will also be celebrating the Legacy of Blended Families in July and The Legacy of Adoption in August. If either of these topics applies to you, we would love for you to participate in the link-up expected to open the second week of each month.

I will also feature a blog on each link-up. If you would like to be the featured guest writer, please contact Mandy through the Contact us page.

Thanks for Sharing

• 

•