By Michael Whitworth
Last Christmas, my mom gave me the best holiday gift I had ever received—a photo album covering my dad’s life. It was so meaningful because Dad passed away in 2004, and my wife and I were expecting our first child in the spring (our son ended up being born on the first day of spring!). It was hard to keep my composure as I flipped through that photo album, one that held pictures of my dad I had not previously seen. I now had a photographic record to share with my son about the grandfather he would never meet.
When my wife and I learned we were having a boy, my excitement level registered on the Richter scale. I daydreamed about the camping trips and football games we would enjoy together. I thought of all the things he would surely do to make me proud: become an Eagle Scout, win the Heisman trophy, graduate summa cum laude, and kill wild animals with his bare hands.
But these are not the greatest desires of my heart. My own dad had a profound impact on my life, one I continue to feel every single day. My dad taught me there is nothing more important in life than one’s relationship with the Lord. Nothing was more important than being in Christ. It was the driving force of his whole life. Because of his influence, this has become my driving force as well, and I want to pass the same on to my son.
I pray every day that my son will observe my example and obey my instruction, and in so doing will come to know Christ as Lord. I hope my son is smart like his mom. I hope he makes good grades in school and is acclaimed for his scholarship. But if he is little more than a “C” student yet lives a life worthy of Jesus, he will be a success in my eyes.
I hope my son is physically strong and athletic. I hope he is able to climb mountains, navigate the wilderness, lead the Dallas Cowboys to the Super Bowl, and leap tall buildings in a single bound. But if he can’t even hit a Whiffle ball to save his life yet is known as a man of the Word, he will be a success in my eyes.
That is why his mom and I pray over him every night. It’s why we read the Scriptures to him before he was even a day old. It’s why being with the Lord’s people will always be a priority for us. It’s why I asked the Lord at his birth to give him David’s strength, Solomon’s wisdom, Abraham’s faith, and the fervor of Peter and Paul. It’s why I tell my son every night he will become mighty in Israel.
In late summer 2004, Dad wrote a newspaper article about the unexpected passing of a beloved Christian friend. He concluded, “Let us all be reminded that death is certain for all of us and that we ought to live in such a way that we can ‘die in the Lord’ for our family’s sake!” Only the Lord knew that, in a few short weeks, Dad would pass from this life. When I preached Dad’s funeral, I openly lamented that he would never know his grandchildren. But if my son comes to trust and obey Jesus, he will know his grandfather in the life to come.
Dad died in Christ for his family’s sake. Nothing is more important than being in Christ.
Michael Whitworth preaches for the Church in Bowie, Texas. He blogs regularly at Start2FinishBlog.com. In his spare time, Michael enjoys drinking coffee, watching sports, and spending time with his wife and son.
