Scoring A Legacy Goal

Deuteronomy 32:7 "Remember the days of old, consider the years of all generations. Ask your father, and he will inform you, your elders and they will tell you." 

Every four years, like the Olympics, it's time for the World Cup. In case you are thinking this has something to do with Starbucks or Victoria Secret...it's about a little sport called SOCCER. That's what we call it here in America. Around the world it's called FUTBOL! Number one most beloved sport internationally, its been a slow but steady rise catching on here in the states with AYSO and Club leagues. We still lack when it comes to FAN-atical followers. (with the exception of David Beckham--Ha!)

I am reminded of one of my first "newsletters" I compiled;  PRE-blog writing. Covering the sport of soccer in my own international family and all my boys who played including my Father-in-law in his home country of The Netherlands. I am re-posting it here for your enjoyment.  (Sorry it's a little small, but I did my best to convert it here).

Good luck to all the players in the World Cup. Happy Father's Day to all the dads who kick balls around with their sons and daughters, whatever kind of ball. Bless the spectators and soccer moms whose cheers, snacks and van pools get the team where they need to be, energized and refreshed. Every player is a winner!

                         JUNE, 2008!

The red sidebar talks about my husband's illustrious career playing and coaching soccer. Ranked the #1 goalie in California, he earned a scholarship to Keene State in New Hampshire. America's version of FOOTBALL, took out his knee and thus the east coast never materialized. He went on to continue his love of the sport,  coaching and reffing; excellent and admired in both. The black and white photo is a picture of my Father-in-law's team, "The Drafted"in The Netherlands, 1952. Johannes VanTilburg in the black, also a goalie, fathered the legacy of the sport in our family.

Today, my father-in-law sits in his recliner, no recollection of yesterday or even if he ate breakfast this morning. He'd be happy to know The Netherlands won 5 -1 today against last year's World Cup Champion, Spain. We will tell him the results, tell him again tomorrow, help him find the channel. Soon enough, he'll want to get on a bike and pedal to practice.

Like life, family legacies can be both positive and negative. Scripture tells us here to "consider"...talk to, think about, ask for the stories, the memories, record things and get a better picture of who you are based on the experiences of your forefathers. Maybe you'll decide to make some changes, maybe you'll just want to strengthen ties by what you have learned.

Maybe this means a prodical returns home.

Maybe, you'll forgive.

Maybe, you'll ask for forgiveness.

Maybe you'll be healed, a restored legacy.

Whatever the score, God will be cheering you on from the sidelines.


Thank you Lord for family legacy. Lord, we know wisdom comes when we are willing to listen to the advice of another generation and appreciate, maybe even come to understand the sacrifices, decisions and memories, filtering it through our own Heavenly Father.  I pray for a legacy in my own family, like that of Joshua 24:15 which states, "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." For myself,  there is no greater legacy and only through Your sustaining Grace, may I continue to strive for this very thing, all to Your glory, Amen.

 

Evidence Remains

Romans 6:4 "Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life." 


I am a teacher's aide for special education at my local high school. My job requires assisting a young man with his school needs in a special day class setting, (SDC). My first period class is Earth Science.

This week just so happens to be the 7th year anniversary of my oldest son's passing into eternity. With that looming on my mind, I couldn't help but draw the comparison to the particular chapter and section we happened to be studying on Wednesday of this week, fossils. 

When giving a definition, the book stated that fossils are "evidence of a past life."

...that they are formed by a specific process.  

The empty spaces within an organism (spaces filled with liquid or gas during life) become filled with mineral-rich groundwater. Minerals precipitate from the groundwater, occupying the empty spaces. The organism then becomes covered by setiment. 

Of course, I couldn't help but fixate on those words, "evidence of a past life." 

In my heart and soul, evidence exists of a son I love, I treasure, I miss dearly. 

In my home evidence of his memory, his things,  permeate. 

In my writing, I speak of his illness, his pain, his passing and post pictures of happy times.

...And I give testimony to the Lord who brings me great comfort and continues to bless me. 

Like petrified rocks around a desert floor, Tim's past life remains visible through me. As his mother, I need to do that. I have to do that. God is at the center of it all.

This definition also made me think of another word: legacy. I don't want to be just some scattered rocks on a desert floor. The evidence that Tim existed for his short time on earth, that I existed, I hope will not be seen so much on earth,  discovered my some wayward anthropologist. I hope that any evidence I leave will follow me into Heaven.

Because of the true God of redeeming Love I know, the rich testimony I am privleged to share, I pray that evidence will precipitate into hearts, fill up God-shaped voids and be covered by grace. The things of nature God divinly allows to transform, either seasonally or geologically, through the storms of this life, or the movement of the earth below us. We are His special creation, made to bring Him glory. I want to leave evidence, a legacy, a testimony, that my life reflected Christ.

Lord, I pray in thanksgiving, that the newness of a life lived for You never dies, never is buried by the things of this world, but becomes transformed and resurrected. Whatever evidence I proclaim in the life I live through You, may my witness be pure and Holy, my words be gentle and full of truth, my prayers be unceasing, and my worship be in humilty and sacrifice. Thank you Lord for the evidence in my heart that You are a sovereign, loving God and a God who longs to give me, through You my purpose, not just leave some dead bones or scattered rocks in the wilderness.  Amen.